Obituary: Lawrence M. Cowen

Lawrence M. Cowen, at 78

Lawrence M. “Larry” Cowen, also known as “Santa,” passed away on October 25, 2023 at 

South Shore Hospital. He valiantly battled non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma for the past year, and appreciated the compassionate care he received from Dana-Farber Cancer Center in Weymouth, Massachusetts General Hospital, the NVNA, and the Hull Fire Department. 

Mr. Cowen leaves behind his life partner, C. Anne Murray of Hull and sons Timothy Cowen of San Francisco, Christopher Cowen of Hull, Brian Cowen of El Paso, Texas, and Frank Cowen of Loxahatchee, Florida, and grandsons Sebastian R. Cowen of San Francisco and Jackson L. Cowen of Pembroke. In addition, he leaves several half-/step-siblings: Bonnie Davis, Melodye Davis, Carolyn Crane, Candy Nichols, and Carla St. Sauveur and their extended family members in N.H., and his former wife and friend, Melodie Mellor of San Francisco. He was predeceased by his brothers, James E. Cowen and Stephen Davis.

Mr. Cowen was born on July 15, 1945 to Eugene H. Cowen and Margaret Mary Luce in Montpellier, Vermont. He grew up in Waterbury, VT and summered with the family on the Butterfield Dairy Farm outside of Middlebury, spending many an hour doing chores and enjoying being outdoors. He graduated from Rice Memorial High School in Vermont and Northeastern University in Boston.

Mr. Cowen married and moved to Boston in 1964. He began his healthcare career as an Operating Room Technician at Beth Israel Hospital. During his tenure there, he served on early cardiac research teams. He subsequently worked at Milton Hospital.

Mr. Cowen left the healthcare profession and worked at several other occupations, eventually landing at Knight Tuition Payment Plans (KTPP). In 1983 he entered into permanent sobriety thanks to the help he received at NORCAP Lodge in Foxboro.

Larry met Anne while working at KTPP. After dating for several years, Mr. Cowen moved to Hull to Anne’s family home on Green Hill, where they enjoyed a quiet life. He enjoyed the beach, reading, music, videography, computer graphics, holiday decorating, and most of all, his family.

Mr. Cowen was a jack of all trades. He started a Handy Pair of Hands, a local handyman business, where he especially enjoyed helping elders. After retiring, he started his favorite job of all by working part-time at the Sunshine Pet Parlor with his best-furry friend, Patches, by his side. He loved greeting all his four-footed friends.

Mr. Cowen believed in the four stages of life: 1. You believe in Santa Claus. 2. You don’t believe in Santa Claus. 3. You are Santa Claus. 4. You look like Santa Claus. He was Santa at Sunshine Pet Parlor and the Hull Holiday Showcase for several years, as well as to any child he encountered along the way. So although Santa Larry might be gone, he still exists as long as there is love, generosity, and devotion.

There will be no formal services, but private celebrations of life. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Friends of Dana-Farber, 450 Brookline Ave., SW120, Boston, MA 02215, or to any animal charity