By Abigail O’Donnell

From the islands of the South Pacific to Wentworth’s campus in Boston and later as president of Armour Porter, alumnus Lew Ayers has found a vast amount of success during his career. On August 13, 2021, Ayers will mark another momentous milestone: his 100th birthday.

Lew’s eldest son, Bill Ayers, recalls how his father was raised in West Boylston, Mass., alongside his sibling, Sis. When he was 21 years old, Ayers enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, driven by his desire to serve his country. He was part of the crew on a Douglas DC-3, and was stationed on Iwo Jima, Guadalcanal, the Marshall Islands and Oahu. Bill explains that he and Lew traveled back to Hawaii 15 years ago—the first time Lew had returned to the area since his military service—noting it was “quite an experience” for his father.

Ayers served as a Marine from 1942 to 1945 and was discharged as a Master Tech Sergeant with six stripes. After the military, Ayers enrolled at Wentworth, graduating in 1948 with a degree in Machine Construction and Tool Design. Ayers recalls how he and his classmates “were a whole class of veterans,” adding that “Wentworth was a great school.”

Following his graduation, Ayers pursued a career as a draftsman in the design area for Rice Barton, which engineered paper mill machinery. Ayers quickly made a name for himself and was promoted to estimating engineer (which involved compiling cost projections for machinery and repairs) and then sales engineer, interfacing with customers and also assisting Rice Barton engineers during installation projects.

In 1962, after Rice Barton acquired two welding fabrication subsidiaries, Ayers was promoted to sales manager for Armour Porter/Robinson Metals. Within two years, he was made vice president of sales and then president. During his time as president, Ayers increased annual sales from $300k to $1.5 million within the first three years, and then brought in consistent sales of $2 million for the remainder of his time there.

In 1980, Rice Porter divested itself of Armour Porter Co. and Ayers returned to Rice Barton as vice president of sales.

During his career, Ayers also dedicated time to the Town of Brookfield, Mass., where he served as the tax collector for a number of years. Ayers adds that he was “always involved in woodworking as a hobby, and always taking pictures.” He was a Cub Scout leader and built winning pinewood derby cars for his children and grandchildren. He was also a Master Mason with the Masonic fraternity.

Adds Bill Ayers, “As a Marine, my father carried the discipline into both his personal and professional life, instilling in his children a strong work ethic and pride in all that they do.”

Up until the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Ayers still exercised at the gym six times a week and was held back from pursuing his athletic regiment seven days a week only due to the gym not being open on Sundays, Bill explains.

Despite Lew Ayers’ many professional accomplishments, he notes that his proudest achievement is his family. “I had a wonderful wife and have four great sons,” he says, emphasizing his pride in “everything they have produced after all these years. I love every one of them.”