Maurice Josef Laurier, Naval Architect and Marine Engineer, of Yorktown, passed away on Oct. 9, 2015.

He was born in Faulkton, S.D., on Oct. 11, 1926, lived in Fairfield, Iowa, and Hempstead, N.Y. He attended Manhattan College in New York City, the United States Merchant Marine Academy and graduated from Webb Institute receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering plus a commission in the U.S. Naval Reserve. Mr. Laurier was later a Sloan Fellow at MIT earning a Master’s Degree.

Upon graduating from Webb Institute, Mr. Laurier went to work at Electric Boat/General Dynamics for 21 years. He was involved with the first two nuclear-powered submarines. He spent over a year at the National Reactor Test Station in Idaho, and later became senior test engineer during the start-up and sea trials of USS Nautilus. At the end of 1971, Mr. Laurier resigned from General Dynamics and in 1972 bought the Greenway Marine Railway in Gloucester and the name was changed to Glass Marine. In 1974, he designed the “Chesapeake Forty” and the Chesapeake Work Boat Company was established. In 1988, Glass Marine was sold and Mr. Laurier established his private Marine Surveying and Engineering Consulting practice. 

Mr. Laurier was a life member of the Webb Alumni Association, the United States Naval Institute, and longtime member and volunteer at the Watermen’s Museum in Yorktown.

He was preceded in death by his first wife of 33 years, Margaret Lee Shriver Laurier; his second wife, Nancy Laing Cole Laurier, and son, Brian Douglas Laurier.

Survivors include his son, David Bruce Laurier and wife Lisa; daughter, Karen Lee Laurier Morisato; plus four grandchildren, Allison Morisato, Garrett Morisato, Margueritte de Laurier and Alice Mcgillicudy.  

The family received friends Monday, Oct. 12, 2015, at Hogg Funeral Home, Gloucester Point, from 6:30-8 p.m. Services and inurnment will be held at a later date in Mystic, Conn.

Should friends desire, contributions may be made to Webb Institute, 298 Crescent Beach Road, Glen Cove, N.Y. 11542-1398 or Watermen’s Museum, P.O. Box 519, Yorktown, Va. 23690.