Carl H. LaLonde

CORTLAND — Carl H. LaLonde, Sr., 92, passed away peacefully on September 9, 2026, at St. Joseph Health Center.

He was born August 6, 1934, in Clayton, New York, the fourth son of Royal G. Sr. and Mary Ann Fowler LaLonde. Known to family and friends in Clayton as “Tickey,” he graduated from Clayton Central High School in 1951.

He attended Champlain College in Plattsburgh, New York, before being accepted into the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Class of 1957. While at the Academy, he sailed on cruises to Bermuda and Europe aboard the USCG Cutter “Eagle”, the academy’s training ship. After leaving the Academy in 1955, he worked briefly for Eastman Kodak in Rochester, New York.

He later moved to Warren, Ohio, where he married the love of his life, Martha A. Maggiano, on July 20, 1957, after meeting on the beach in Cape May, New Jersey. While raising their family, Carl continued his education by attending night classes in mechanical engineering at Youngstown University.

He enjoyed a long career in manufacturing and engineering. He worked for Republic Steel, Alroll, Inc., Van Huffel Tube Corp., Welded Tubes, Inc., and later Flex Strut, Inc. During his career, he held engineering and production leadership positions and participated in the development and patenting of several products. He retired from Welded Tubes in 1997. He had a strong work ethic, a value he proudly passed on to his children.

Family was always at the center of his life. He was immensely proud of his children and grandchildren and shared with them his love of the outdoors, hunting and fishing. He and Martha enjoyed traveling, especially to the St. Lawrence River and Maine.

He remained proud of his connection to the Coast Guard Academy Class of 1957 and maintained close friendships with many of his former classmates. He also served eight years in the Coast Guard Reserve.

He was active in the Boy Scouts as a Cubmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster. In retirement, he enjoyed golf with friends and remained active in the Knights of Columbus at St. Robert Bellarmine Church in Cortland, where he and Martha were longtime members. He also served as a Eucharistic minister. He was an organ donor, a final expression of his generosity and desire to help others.

He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Martha; his children, Judge Mary Margaret Rowlands of Akron, Ohio, Michele Clifford of Illinois, Carl Jr. (Mary) of Kent, Ohio, and Susan (Ryan) Day of Cortland, Ohio; his grandchildren, Bradley Rowlands, Katie Rowlands, Sarah (Justin) Berry, Steven Clifford and Graham Bollenbacher; his brother, Jerome (Patty) LaLonde of New York; and many nieces, nephews and godchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Royal Jr., William and Merle LaLonde; his sister, Diane Riley; and his son-in-law, Louis Clifford.

The family would like to thank the staff at Otterbein Senior Living in Cortland for their dedicated and loving care.

Family and friends may call Friday, September 18, 2026, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at the Peter Rossi & Son Memorial Chapel in Warren, where a prayer service will be held at 12:45 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 1:30 p.m. at St. Robert Bellarmine Church, 4659 Niles-Cortland Road, Cortland, Ohio, with the Rev. Fr. Brian Cline presiding.

Inurnment will be at All Souls Cemetery in Bazetta, Ohio.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Class of 1957–Admiral J. William Kime Ethics Endowment, 47 Mohegan Ave., New London, Connecticut 06320.

May his soul rest in eternal peace with our Lord.