Lawrence Thayer Browne
Lawrence Thayer Browne passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on November 26, 2025, at the age of 88. A man of enthusiasm, warmth and a kind nature, he will be deeply missed by his family and friends.
Larry was born on March 13, 1937, in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, the only child of Priscilla Thayer Browne and Richard Browne. He attended Cornell University on a full Navy scholarship and upon graduation in 1960, Ensign Larry married his college girlfriend, Susan Foote, just prior to beginning his military service. Courtesy of the Navy, the two of them set up their first home on Guam. During a typhoon, his small ship was sent out on a rescue mission which caused Larry to develop chronic seasickness. A year and a half later Larry left the Navy on an Honorable Medical discharge, allowing him the lifelong delight of telling the tale that no matter how much he enjoyed it, he was a less than capable naval officer. As they left Guam for home on the East Coast, a friend convinced Larry to make a stop in Santa Barbara. It was there that Larry and Sue fell in love again, this time with the area that would be their home for the rest of his life.
His love of real estate started with Larry’s first fixer-upper home in 1962. He worked an office job during the day and renovated investment properties at night. That routine ended when he founded Browne Engineering Corporation in 1968. With his degree in business and his family’s innate engineering ability, Larry began designing and building soldering instruments for the new micro electronics industry. His company’s product line eventually expanded to include medical diagnostic equipment.
In 1980 Larry sold Browne Engineering. By that time, Larry had achieved the first of two childhood dreams: earning licenses to fly single-engine planes, twin-engine planes and helicopters. This enabled Larry to fly his wife and three children from Santa Barbara to New England every summer. Plotting flight paths, frequenting Howard Johnsons, and visiting friends around the country made for memorable family vacations and strong friendships. By 1991 Larry had realized his second childhood dream: purchasing a vacation home on Lake Winnipesaukee, NH. Larry treasured time spent in the summer at the lake with family and friends. He also loved traveling the globe, often with friends, designing possible upgrades to his Santa Barbara and lake homes, and writing books (unpublished) which he wrote for the love of the creative outlet. Larry was a generous husband, friend, father, grandfather and great- grandfather.
Larry is survived by his wife of 65 years, his three children, Tad, Matt, and Debbie, four granddaughters, and three great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to VNA Health, Santa Barbara Food Bank, or Planned Parenthood
