Laurence Peter Ostaszewski, age 77 years, of Hillsborough Township, NJ, died peacefully at home on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, surrounded by his loving family and under the caring watch of Hunterdon Hospice.

Born in New Haven, CT, and raised in Bayonne, NJ, Laurence was the second eldest of five brothers. He graduated from Marist High School and went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ. Always driven and intellectually curious, he later received his MBA in Finance from Rutgers University.

In 1991, Laurence moved to Hillsborough, NJ, where he and his wife, Nancy, built a loving home and raised their two children. He had a long and accomplished career in engineering and management across the manufacturing and personal care product industries, and most recently served as Director of Engineering at Rust-Oleum in Somerset, NJ, before retiring in 2014.

Laurence was never one to sit still for long. In his free time, he could often be found tinkering around the house with tools in hand, fixing or building something. He traveled the world, learning first hand from the best mechanics and engineers in Germany, Japan, and Australia, among other destinations. He was the family master strategist, often victorious in card and board games, and an avid technologist who built his own gaming computers to play the latest releases on. A loyal (and often exasperated) fan of the New York Jets, he watched every game with hope. He loved cooking—especially for his family—and was an avid reader whose bookshelves revealed a mind forever voyaging.

Above all, Laurence loved his family fiercely. He was a devoted husband to Nancy, his wife of 49 years, a proud and supportive father to Brad (Tora) Ostaszewski and Courtney (Dan) Klock, and a playful, doting grandfather to Zinnia, Coralie, and Lillian, who were the light of his life. His dry wit and sarcastic humor were constants in their home, and his quick one-liners never failed to get a laugh.

Laurence was predeceased by his parents, Helen and Steve Ostaszewski. He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, and his four brothers: Steve, Robert (Edna), Teddy (Patty), and Jimmy (Linda) Ostaszewski, who shared a lifetime of memories, jokes, and sibling camaraderie with him.

Laurence will be remembered for his intelligence and quiet strength. He built more than just machines-he built a home, a family, a life– engineered with quiet love and the occasional perfectly timed wisecrack.

Donations in his name can be made to the Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine.

Family and friends will gather on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ to help celebrate the life of this most special man.

A life celebration service officiated by Certified Celebrant Maria Merida-Asch will take place at 4:00 p.m. at the funeral home, and to which all are welcome.

You are encouraged to visit Larry’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of his life.

Donations in his name can be made to the Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine by clicking HERE, or via mail to: Abramson Cancer Center Development Office, Attn: Greta Bednarczyk, 3535 Market Street, Suite 750, Philadelphia, PA 19104, ***Please make checks payable to Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania***.

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”

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