Obituary of Lawrence P. Cogswell, Jr.
Lawrence Perley Cogswell, Jr., of Glastonbury, age 87, passed away on April 4, 2026. He was the beloved husband of Sharon Marie Cogswell.
Lawrence lived a life defined by curiosity, creativity, service, and a deep love of learning. He was the son of the late Lawrence Perley Cogswell, MD, and Marjorie Garde Cogswell.
An avid reader and lifelong learner, Lawrence found great joy in history, sailing, music, and the arts. A gifted pianist and an accomplished artist working in a variety of media, creativity remained a constant thread throughout his life. Lawrence’s love of knowledge was matched by a remarkable ability to share it with others, making Lawrence a natural and inspiring teacher. A wonderful sense of humor and a genuine love of life endeared Lawrence to family, friends, students, and the many people he met along the way.
Lawrence earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Maine, a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Hartford, and completed a sixth‑year program in Administration and Supervision, also at the University of Hartford. A retired long‑time teacher in the Glastonbury Public Schools, Lawrence dedicated a career to education and to nurturing curiosity and critical thinking in students. Lawrence previously served as a medic in the United States Army Reserves. Lawrence also served as a Justice of the Peace in Hartford, Connecticut.
A dedicated historian, Lawrence was a long‑time volunteer with the Historical Society of Glastonbury, where docent‑led tours were conducted with enthusiasm, insight, and warmth. This passion for history also found expression through authorship of a Civil War history book, contributing meaningfully to the preservation and sharing of the past.
Lawrence was the proud father of Lawrence Perley Cogswell III, PhD, JD (wife Maria F. Barile, MD), and a cherished grandfather of Emma Barile Cogswell and Elijah Barile Cogswell. Lawrence is also lovingly remembered by his niece Catherine Ann Cogswell and by her husband, John Schienman, PhD. He is also survived by his niece Carol Marie Fleck and her husband Alan, and his sister-in-law Joanne Cogswell. Lawrence was predeceased by a brother, Walter Garde Cogswell.
Lawrence Perley Cogswell, Jr. will be remembered for his love of family, intellectual generosity, artistic talent, dedication to teaching and history, and a life lived with humor, kindness, and joy.
A graveside service will be held at Rose Hill Memorial Park, 580 Elm Street, Rocky Hill, Connecticut, on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at 11:00 am. To honor Lawrence’s lifelong love of history, donations in his memory are welcomed by the Historical Society of Glastonbury, P.O. Box 46, Glastonbury, CT 06033. For online condolences, please visit www.mulryanfh.com.