Obituary of Lindsay Ayer

Lindsay Henry “Lin” Ayer, Jr, an engineer and purchasing agent by day and a musician by night passed away after an extended illness on Wednesday night, March 28, 2018. He was 90 years old. Lin was born in Cambridge, the son of Lindsay and Ida Ayer. At the age of 6 his mother tragically passed away. For a number of years Lin and his Dad were on their own. Eventually, his father met and married Anne Leonardis Kelly, who became Lin’s stepmother. He grew up in Somerville and Woburn. At the age of 17 he enlisted in the Navy to Serve in WW II. He was a Fireman First Class and served on 2 destroyer escorts; the USS Neunzer ( DE 150) and the USS Pillsbury (DE 133). He was discharged at the end of the war and was the recipient of the WW II Victory Medal and the American Area Medal. He married Mary Malloy in 1948 and they settled in Woburn. With the outbreak of the Korean War, he was recalled to the Navy in 1950 to serve his second tour of duty. He served for almost a year and a half prior to his discharge. In total he had served in the Navy for just shy of 7 years. He was recommended to reenlist and make the Navy his career, but chose to return home to his wife and family. Lin went to work at Raytheon and Sanders Corporation, ending his career at Digital Equipment Corporation. During those years he took classes at MIT to better understand the engineering side of the parts and equipment he was purchasing. He had a wonderful career and worked with some great coworkers and on some very interesting and exciting projects. Lin’s business career supported his family, but his passion was music. He was a talented musician, playing a number of instruments, but his favorite was the saxophone. He went to the Arlington Academy of Music to further his skills. He played professionally in many Big Bands and Jazz Bands over the years. He played at weddings, corporate events, parties, and even on the Burlington Common as part of Burlington’s summer concert series. He loved music, being an entertainer, and seeing the joy he brought to others as they danced to his music. He shared that love for music with his children as well. They were brought up sitting around the piano playing instruments and singing. When his children were in Burlington High School he became deeply involved in the Burlington High School Music Boosters. He worked on raising money for instruments, uniforms, and travel expenses of the band. There was a wonderful circle of parents and teachers who worked to share their passion for music and enrich the music program at the high school. Lin and his wife Mary moved to Burlington in 1964 to raise their 6 children all of whom had names starting with “L”. Their home was always filled with music, laughter and love. The family spent summers at Bow Lake in Strafford, NH at their cottage on the lake. It was the summer gathering spot for decades in the Ayer family. It was already crowded with Lin, Mary, and six children, but got even more cramped with the addition of the children’s friends, son and daughters-in-laws and grandchildren. For many years, the cottage didn’t even have a television. The days were spent on the lake sailing Lin’s Aqua Cat catamaran and swimming, and the nights were spent playing board games and cards. The memories of those times are some of the most cherished in all the Ayer family and will always hold a special place in their hearts. Lin was the beloved husband to his wife Mary (Malloy) Ayer for 54 years. He was the loving father of Lynne Prower of Winchester, Laura MacAllister & her husband Dana of Hudson, NH, Lindsay Ayer, III & his wife Ursula of Folsom, LA, Landra Moore of Concord, NH, Leslie McClure of Pepperell & her late husband Ronald, and the late Laurence “Larry” Ayer. Lin was the proud grandfather of Dana MacAllister, Jr., Andria Hansen, Adam Prower, Rebecca Ayer, Michaela Hines, Shawna Caudill and Rachel Roy. He was also survived by 13 great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., Burlington (exit 34 off Rt. 128, Woburn side) on Tuesday, April 3 at 11 a.m. Visiting hours will be at the funeral home on Monday from 6-8 p.m. Interment in Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Burlington. Memorials in Lindsay’s name may be made to the Burlington High School Music Boosters Association, P.O. Box 1052, Burlington, MA 01803.