The National School Transportation Association announced that former president Larry Pierce passed away on Oct. 4. He was 85.
Pierce Coach was founded in 1940. From 1948 until his death, Pierce served as the first and only president of the Roslyn, N.Y., based contractor. He served as president of the New York School Bus Contractors Association in 1967 and as NSTA president in 1977, a hallmark year for the student transportation industry when NHTSA passed the first school bus safety standards. He was honored as NSTA Contractor of the Year in 1987, and seven years later NSTA inducted him into its Hall of Fame.
Pierce was also a long-standing member of both the National Association for Pupil Transportation and the New York Association for Pupil Transportation. He is survived by wife Frances, an administrative assistant for the company, and son Troy, operations director. Troy Pierce has supervised the company employees and vehicles since 1998.
A viewing for Larry Pierce will be held Oct. 7 and Oct. 8 at Knowles Funeral Home in Port Washington, N.Y. A mass will be held on Oct. 9 at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Manhasset, N.Y. In lieu of flower, the family asks that donations be sent to the United Cerebral Palsy of Nassau in Roosevelt, N.Y., Pierce’s favorite charity. Cards may also be sent to Pierce Coach, 37 Mineola Ave., Roslyn, N.Y., 11576.
STN will publish more details as they become available.
