Michael M. Lawson

Michael M. Lawson, age 79, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at The Edith Nourse Rogers VA Medical Center in Bedford, Massachusetts, surrounded by his loving family. Born in Washington, D.C., on September 17, 1945, he was the son of the late Eric and Dorris (Moore) Lawson. Michael was raised in Canastota, New York, where he graduated from Canastota High School with the Class of 1963. He then attended Syracuse University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history, graduating in 1967. 

With the war in Vietnam escalating, in the fall of 1967 Michael enlisted in the United States Army. After being commissioned, Michael served in Vietnam as a First Lieutenant until he was wounded in battle on July 27, 1969. Upon his return home, he recovered at the St. Alban’s Naval Hospital where he was awarded the Purple Heart. After completing his service and receiving an honorable discharge, Michael enrolled at the State University of New York at Albany where he earned a master’s degree in public administration in 1971. 

Michael began his VA career as an executive management intern at the Albany VA medical center and then progressed through a series of administrative positions at VA medical centers in Chicago West Side; Erie, PA; Huntington, WVA; and Jamaica Plain, MA. By this time, Michael had met his wife-to-be, Susan Kenny, a personnel management specialist at the VA. They were married on January 1, 1978, and made their home in Millis, MA. 

By late 1979, Michael and Susan were on their way to the VA Central Office in Washington, D.C., where Michael served as Director of the Medical Administration Service. While there, Michael and Susan welcomed a daughter, Katherine, in 1984 and a son, Douglas, in 1987. In 1990, the family was on the move again, this time to upstate New York where Michael was appointed as Director of the VA in Canandaigua. Thereafter, Michael served as the Medical Center Director of the Brockton-West Roxbury VA Medical Center (1994-1999) and then spearheaded the transformation of the Jamaica Plain and Brockton-West Roxbury VAMCs into the current VA Boston Healthcare System. He worked tirelessly until his retirement in 2013 to build VA Boston into one of the nation’s premier healthcare organizations, excelling in clinical care, education, and research. 

Blessed with abundant energy, Michael never stayed still. He built sheds and stone walls, and he enjoyed gardening and home renovation work. He did his own electrical and plumbing work, as well as car repairs. A man with three basement workbenches, he could fix practically anything!

Michael and his family have resided in East Walpole since 1995, and they have also spent many happy hours at their house in Eastham on Cape Cod. Over the years, Michael has taken great pride in his children and has thoroughly enjoyed being “Papa” to his five grandchildren. To know Michael was to know a man with a quick wit, a sharp intellect, a deep sense of integrity, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. 

Beloved husband of Alice "Susan" (Kenny) Lawson.

Loving father of Katherine A. Trier and her husband, Henry, of Milton; Douglas E. Lawson and his wife, Chelsea, of Brookline; and Andrea K. Marks and her husband, Ryan, of San Francisco.

Cherished grandfather of Liam Trier, Dylan Trier, Owen Trier, Nora Trier, Duncan Lawson, and Leona Marks.

Brother of Eric Lawson, Jr. and his wife, Beverly, of Saratoga Springs, New York, and the late Carter Lawson.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend Visitation for Michael on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, from 4:00 pm -7:00 p.m. in the James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home, 48 Common Street, Walpole. Interment will take place privately at Arlington National Cemetery. A Celebration of Life for Michael is being planned for the spring.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Michael's name may be made to either the Alzheimer's Association, 320 Nevada Street, Suite 201, Newton, MA 02460, https://www.alz.org/manh, or to the Edith Nourse Rogers VA Medical Center, 200 Springs Road, Bedford, MA 01730, noting on the memo line “General Post Funds 9006,” (a fund to benefit Patient Recreational Therapy).