Obituary for Lawrence F. Tobiason
Tobiason, Lawrence F. of Westford, formerly of Winchester, passed away on June 12, 2020. Born in Boston on September 16, 1936, Larry was the fourth of five sons of Hans and Tyra E. (Fransman) Tobiason. He grew up in Arlington, graduating from Arlington High School in 1954. He earned his Associate’s degree from Northeastern University in 1965.
From a young age, Larry was interested in understanding how things worked. As a teen, he learned the carpentry trade and worked as a general contractor in the family business, H. Tobiason Builders, alongside his father and brothers, Karl and Ed. Over the years, they built many homes, schools and churches in the Berkshires and in the Boston area. In the 1990s, Larry founded L. Tobiason Associates and took on large construction projects in Columbus, OH and Los Angeles, CA. After his retirement, Larry’s greatest joy, beyond spending time with family and friends, was starting multiple projects in his woodworking shop or at his beloved family cottage in Hollis, NH.
Larry was always up for any type of adventure. He often said, “When you’re out, stay out,” and that spirit led to numerous spontaneous outings across New England, from midnight runs to L.L. Bean, to clams on the North Shore, or dropping in on family and friends. He treasured connections with family both nearby and in his parents’ native Finland and Sweden. He enjoyed traveling there, but also loved hosting family reunions in Hollis.
Larry’s interests and curiosity led him to unusual hobbies such as working on the 4th of July fireworks display over the Esplanade in Boston, participating in cannon-shooting competitions with friends, maple sugaring, learning how to make Windsor chairs, building mason bee houses, and fashioning contraptions to solve all manner of problems. He could fix pretty much anything.
Larry was always very involved in community activities and enjoyed making connections with people. He was recently recognized for his 50 as a mason. In Winchester, he was a member of the Jaycees, a founding member of Winchester Town Day, and a Town Meeting member. He also worked on the Finance Committee and Permanent Building Committee. He enjoyed the Boston Symphony Orchestra with dear friends for decades. When he and Barbara moved to Westford, he became involved in several committees at the Village of Stone Ridge, a community that they both treasured throughout their later years.
Larry was predeceased by his wife Barbara A. (Griffin) Tobiason. He is survived by his three daughters, Jennifer Martin and her husband Brad of Plymouth, MN, Sarah Bjorkman and her husband Magnus of Arlington, and Jessica Tobiason and her husband Josh Bluestein of Westford. Larry was a much beloved Morfar to Andrew, Ben & Thomas Martin and Tobias & Jacob Bluestein. In addition, he leaves his brothers Karl of Contoocook, NH, Dick and wife Mary Jane of Bend, OR, and Ed and wife Beverly of Englewood, FL and sister-in-law, Annie of Corona del Mar, CA. He was predeceased by his brother Ken. He is also survived by a niece and six nephews and many cousins in the U.S., Canada, Sweden, and Finland.
Due to the current COVID conditions, burial will be private. A memorial and celebration of a life well lived will be planned for a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 75 Cold Spring Road, Westford, MA 01886 or Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 or via www.jimmyfund.org/gift.
If you would like to share a written or brief (1-2 minute) video remembrance of Larry, please email to memoriesoflarryT@gmail.com. We will compile these and share them.
From a young age, Larry was interested in understanding how things worked. As a teen, he learned the carpentry trade and worked as a general contractor in the family business, H. Tobiason Builders, alongside his father and brothers, Karl and Ed. Over the years, they built many homes, schools and churches in the Berkshires and in the Boston area. In the 1990s, Larry founded L. Tobiason Associates and took on large construction projects in Columbus, OH and Los Angeles, CA. After his retirement, Larry’s greatest joy, beyond spending time with family and friends, was starting multiple projects in his woodworking shop or at his beloved family cottage in Hollis, NH.
Larry was always up for any type of adventure. He often said, “When you’re out, stay out,” and that spirit led to numerous spontaneous outings across New England, from midnight runs to L.L. Bean, to clams on the North Shore, or dropping in on family and friends. He treasured connections with family both nearby and in his parents’ native Finland and Sweden. He enjoyed traveling there, but also loved hosting family reunions in Hollis.
Larry’s interests and curiosity led him to unusual hobbies such as working on the 4th of July fireworks display over the Esplanade in Boston, participating in cannon-shooting competitions with friends, maple sugaring, learning how to make Windsor chairs, building mason bee houses, and fashioning contraptions to solve all manner of problems. He could fix pretty much anything.
Larry was always very involved in community activities and enjoyed making connections with people. He was recently recognized for his 50 as a mason. In Winchester, he was a member of the Jaycees, a founding member of Winchester Town Day, and a Town Meeting member. He also worked on the Finance Committee and Permanent Building Committee. He enjoyed the Boston Symphony Orchestra with dear friends for decades. When he and Barbara moved to Westford, he became involved in several committees at the Village of Stone Ridge, a community that they both treasured throughout their later years.
Larry was predeceased by his wife Barbara A. (Griffin) Tobiason. He is survived by his three daughters, Jennifer Martin and her husband Brad of Plymouth, MN, Sarah Bjorkman and her husband Magnus of Arlington, and Jessica Tobiason and her husband Josh Bluestein of Westford. Larry was a much beloved Morfar to Andrew, Ben & Thomas Martin and Tobias & Jacob Bluestein. In addition, he leaves his brothers Karl of Contoocook, NH, Dick and wife Mary Jane of Bend, OR, and Ed and wife Beverly of Englewood, FL and sister-in-law, Annie of Corona del Mar, CA. He was predeceased by his brother Ken. He is also survived by a niece and six nephews and many cousins in the U.S., Canada, Sweden, and Finland.
Due to the current COVID conditions, burial will be private. A memorial and celebration of a life well lived will be planned for a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 75 Cold Spring Road, Westford, MA 01886 or Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 or via www.jimmyfund.org/gift.
If you would like to share a written or brief (1-2 minute) video remembrance of Larry, please email to memoriesoflarryT@gmail.com. We will compile these and share them.