Lawrence A. "Larry" Bossidy

Lawrence Arthur Bossidy "Larry", 90, died peacefully on Tuesday July 22, 2025 in his beloved Ridgefield home.

Larry was born on March 5, 1935 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts to Lawrence and Gertrude Bossidy. He graduated from Pittsfield High School in 1953. 

Larry enjoyed his youth in the constant presence of his best friend and twin brother Tom. Larry excelled in sports, starring at Pittsfield High on the baseball and basketball teams. Larry was an outstanding southpaw pitcher in baseball and an avid Boston Red Sox fan. Larry cherished his Pittsfield roots and said once “I never had any trouble figuring out where I was going because I never forgot where I came from.”

Larry was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 1953 but instead of signing with them he chose to attend Colgate University on a full athletic scholarship. Incredibly, Larry led tiny Colgate to the College World Series in 1955 and later was admitted to the Colgate Athletic Hall of Fame.

In 1956, Larry married the love of his life, the late Nancy Jo (Rodhouse) Bossidy. In 1957, Larry graduated from Colgate and moved with Nancy to Schenectady, New York where he accepted a job with GE. 

Over the next fifteen years Larry and Nancy had nine children. 

Nancy and Larry moved to Ridgefield in 1970. They fell in love with the town and never considered leaving Ridgefield.

Larry was an incredibly devoted husband and father. Though he worked long hours to support his family, Larry attended many of his children's games, performances and recitals. Larry also coached some of the youth baseball teams that his sons played on.

During this same time, Larry was  rapidly moving up the management ranks at GE. After rising to the level of Vice Chairman, Larry left GE in 1991 to be the Chairman and CEO of AlliedSignal (later renamed Honeywell). Larry retired form Honeywell in 2000, was reappointed as CEO in 2001 and retired for good in 2002. 

In his retirement, Larry became a distinguished writer. He co-authored the best-selling book "Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done" and its sequel "Confronting Reality: Master the New Model for Success".

Larry was incredibly generous and many local organizations and people benefitted from his philanthropy. Some of Larry's favorite organizations were RVNAhealth, the Ridgefield Boys & Girls Club, RADical Hope, Tiger Hollow, the Ridgefield Library, the Inner City Foundation, the Sankaty Golf Club Caddy Camp, Founders Hall and NYU Langone Hospital. The complete list of organizations and people that received Larry's time and treasure is much longer.

Shortly before he died Larry said: "I have lived a beautiful life. By far my proudest achievements are my sixty-six year marriage to my soulmate Nancy Jo and raising nine wonderful children". 

Larry was a devout Catholic and attended daily mass. His life was shaped by a deep, unwavering faith in God until the end. Larry had a positive, optimistic attitude and a genuine love for America. He was intensely competitive in business and in golf. He rose early, hit the ground running and brought his "A" game every day. 

Larry was a natural leader in every situation. He led with passion, enthusiasm and a self-deprecating sense of humor.

Larry loved life and enjoyed life to its fullest every day.

Larry is survived by his nine children as well as their spouses and children: daughter Lynn Tidgwell (Tom, Conor, Kelleigh), son Larry Bossidy and wife Sharon (Tim, Kendall), son Paul Bossidy and wife Tricia (Paul, Brendan), daughter Pam Martin (Quinn, Lily), daughter Nancy Dugdale and husband George (Nick, Sam, Jack, Luke), daughter Mary Jane Kelemen and husband Drew (Lucy, Andrew, Jane), daughter Lucy Milliano and husband Tony (Nicole, Gabrielle, Anthony), son Mike and wife Julie (Mike, Ted, Maddie, Josie), and daughter Kathleen Mackie and husband Scot (Charlotte, Molly, Georgia, Scot, Henry, BB). Larry is also survived by sixteen great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his wife, Nancy Jo, Larry was predeceased by his parents, his brother Tom, his sisters Ann and Mary and by two grandsons, Christopher Martin and Daniel Tidgwell.

Family and friends will be received on Sunday, July 27, 2025 from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm at Kane Funeral Home; 25 Catoonah Street , Ridgefield. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, July 28, 2025 at 10:00 am in Saint Mary's Church; 55 Catoonah Street, Ridgefield. The Bossidy Family will offer remarks of remembrance at Saint Mary's Church on Monday morning beginning at 9:45 AM; all are asked to arrive at the church by 9:30 AM. 

Interment will take place privately. 

A recording of the funeral mass is available here: Larry Bossidy Funeral Mass Recording