Theresa C. Laurin, 91, died in her home Thursday, surrounded by her family and friends. Teddi, as she was known, was founder and CEO of Laurin Publishing Co., Inc., an international publisher of scientific trade magazines headquartered in Pittsfield. Teddi was born and raised in Pittsfield by her parents S. Rafael Cianflone and Assunta Galiano Cianflone.
She married Francis T. Laurin in 1950. At first a homemaker, Teddi was intent on having means to send their four children to college. In 1962, she became an editor working with Dr. Clifton Tuttle, a physicist formerly of Eastman Kodak. Tuttle had started Optical Publishing Co. in 1954, and published a small optical science directory. Teddi's skill as a writer and publisher, combined with her incredible drive, led to a strong partnership with Tuttle. They strove to support and define the work of optical scientists, their fast-changing technology, and its applications.
Teddi and Fran bought the company in 1964. Fran worked with her and also as a professional engineer at Beloit in Dalton. In 1967, she launched the trade magazine Optical Spectra in response to increasing demand. In 1973, Fran joined the company full time as president. Their four children also became essential drivers in the company's growth and evolution. The flagship magazine was eventually re-titled Photonics Spectra - Teddi flew the banner of the photon to reframe news and content. Her goal was to expose broader meaning for people across adjacent yet segmented scientific fields. Over time, she had served on the Board of Directors of the Optical Society of America, the Engineering Council of the Optical Society of America, and the American Business Press Publisher Committee. The company was renamed Laurin Publishing in March 1986 and currently stands at over 80 employees across Pittsfield and satellite branches, with editorial contributors all around the world.
In 2000, Teddi was honored as one of 15 Western Mass "Women of Influence," then described as "a woman at the helm of two male-dominated industries, publishing in the field of high technology and the science of engineering." Her awards are proof of successfully traversing and influencing both. Recognition of her efforts include: the 1991 SPIE President's Award for "distinguished leadership and service in support of the optics industry and optical engineering"; 1996 Optical Society of America Engineering Excellence Award "for fostering a broader recognition of optical engineering's achievements and creating greater awareness of photonics technology's potential applications"; honored as Board of Director and Fellow of the Laser Institute of America; and the 2001 Editorial Excellence Award from the American Society of Business Press Editors. In 2005, she was inducted into the Western Massachusetts Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame.
Teddi also offered her leadership and expertise within her local community, through various economic and philanthropic channels: as a member of Berkshire Chamber of Commerce; former member of the Mayor's Economic Task Force, Pittsfield; member of Downtown Inc., Pittsfield; member of United Way Alexis de Tocqueville; sponsor to United Cerebral Palsy; founding sponsor to the Global Child's School Project; member of the Founder's Circle, Massachusetts Audubon Society.
In love with the arts, Teddi constantly sought ways to cultivate them in her hometown and surrounding areas. She served as a chairperson on the founding board of the Colonial Theater Project and was deeply committed to the venue's restoration and reopening. She was a Berkshire Museum trustee, member of the MASS MoCA Tantalum Circle, underwriter to Pittsfield's Sheeptacular project, a Shakespeare & Company trustee and sponsor for its Bankside project.
Teddi was wife to Fran for 58 years before his passing in 2009, and was preceded by her daughter Diane Laurin. She leaves her eight grandchildren, John, Elizabeth, Ryan, Kristina, Erik, Noah, Rachel, and Jason; her three children, Patricia Trotti of Pittsfield, Thomas Laurin of Schodack, NY, and Wendy Laurin of Richmond; her brother Ralph Cianflone, Jr. and sister-in-law Louise Cianflone of Pittsfield; daugher-in-law, Mary Ann; sons-in-law Jeffrey Konowitch and Roosevelt Moore, Jr.

Funeral Notice:
Calling hours for Theresa C. Laurin (91) who died Thursday Nov.5 will be held Sunday November 8th at Dery Funeral Home, 54 Bradford St., Pittsfield. Funeral Services for Teddi will be held Monday November 9th beginning at 10:30AM at South Congregational Church in Pittsfield, celebrated by the Rev. Joel Huntington. Burial will follow for family only in St. Joseph Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Western & Central Massachusetts in care of the Dery Funeral Home.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Theresa C. Laurin, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.