BRUNSWICK — Lawrence L. Clampitt, 93, died peacefully with family by his side on April 3, 2017. Larry was born April 26, 1923 at home in New Providence, Iowa to Roy and Pauline Clampitt. He graduated from high school in 1940 and worked a year on the family farm before entering Iowa State. He studied electrical engineering and graduated in 1944. He then joined the Navy in 1945, attended Radio School in Chicago and was asked to attend Japanese language school in Oklahoma. He received a commission as ensign.

Beginning in 1946 Larry spent his working career of 42 years at Raytheon where he held numerous positions, including Manager of the Microwave Power Tube Division and later, Consulting Engineer. He was known as a problem solver. His work included patented inventions in radar and navigation systems and early collaboration on the team that developed the first microwave ovens, ultimately finding consumer success with Raytheon’s Amana Radarange. Later in his career he consulted on development of ring laser gyroscope technologies, the heart of modern aviation inertial navigation systems. He retired in 1988 but his “tinkering” never stopped. He was known to his family as “Mr. Fix-it.”

In 1948 he met his future wife Jeanne Caswell, whom he married in December 1949. They raised their three sons in Needham, MA and later welcomed a daughter after they had moved to Wayland, MA where they sang in the choir and were long-standing members of First Parish in Wayland (Unitarian). In 1988 Larry and Jeanne moved to Brunswick, ME to be closer to their summer home in Christmas Cove.

Larry had a long and successful tennis career, beginning with a Raytheon company team and playing many years on neighbors’ courts in Wayland and in Christmas Cove. It was in Maine where his enthusiasm for sailing grew, and he played tennis into his 80s, winning many Christmas Cove Improvement Association (C.C.I.A.) championships. He was president of the C.C.I.A. from 1991–93 and served many years on the Buildings and Grounds and Tennis Committees. On his 80th birthday, his children presented the C.C.I.A. with a proper tennis umpire’s chair in his honor.

When he first moved to Brunswick, Larry helped to start the local Habitat for Humanity and served on its first board. He was chairman of the music committee at First Parish in Brunswick, where he sang in the choir for 20 years. He served on the Bowdoin College Friends Committee as chair and he and his wife served as co-chairs of the Bowdoin College Host Family Program for 9 years. In 2005 Larry and Jeanne moved to Thornton Oaks Retirement Community. Larry continued to play tennis for several more years and served on the Senior Health Center board and as treasurer for the Matthew’s Appreciation Fund. Continuing his engineering proclivity, Larry helped facilitate internet access for all residents at Thornton Oaks.

He was predeceased by siblings Richard, Amy (celebrated American poet) and Beth. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Jeanne; sons David (Cynthia), Peter, Richard (Rachel Hurst), and daughter Martha C. Merrill (John); grandchildren Sebastian Merrill, Laura Clampitt and Jaime Clampitt; and brother Philip.

In lieu of flowers, please consider contributions to DaPonte String Quartet or Bowdoin College’s Friends Fund.

The family would like to thank all those who provided loving care to Larry during his last two years with Parkinson’s at Horizons Living & Rehab Center. A memorial service will be held at First Parish Church in Brunswick at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 13.