About Us

​Our History

Albert J. TonryTonry Insurance Group, Inc. traces its roots back to 1926 when Albert J. Tonry, who had been a workmen’s’ compensation insurance salesman for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company started the business. Mr. Tonry was also an M.I.T. educated engineer and found that writing insurance for contractors was a congenial focus for his expertise.  He focused on serving contractor customers and, to this day, the Agency is a significant player in bonding and insuring contractors in New England.

Four executives including Albert J. Tonry, Louis A. Tonry Sr., and Herbert TonryIn 1947, Albert’s son, Herbert Tonry, a graduate of Bowdoin College and Harvard School of Business, joined the firm to be followed in 1949 by another son, Louis, also a graduate of Bowdoin. Both sons were Naval officers and joined the firm after completing their service in World War II. About this time, the agency began to write surety bonds rounding out the service they offered to contractors.

Lou Tonry in front of Prudential Center 1987

In 1956, the three Tonrys incorporated the business as Albert J. Tonry & Co., Inc. with Albert J. Tonry as President, Herbert Tonry as Treasurer, and Louis A. Tonry as Vice-President. Shortly thereafter, Albert retired and Louis assumed the position of President. In 1964, the agency moved from Post Office Square to the newly constructed Prudential Center as one of the original tenants.

Carl Traina in 1980

Carl L. Traina, a Tufts University educated Civil Engineer, joined the firm in 1975 and introduced a program of diversification, computerization. and expansion that has made the firm a respected and significant part of the insurance community. The two Tonry brothers retired in 1982 with Mr. Traina assuming the Role of President and Treasurer.

Lou Tonry in 1990Louis A. Tonry, Jr. joined the firm in 1986 after several years of involvement in the agency. He is a graduate of Bowdoin College and has a Master’s degree in Business from Babson College. Lou worked his way up and is now our Custom Accounts manager and President of Tonry Insurance Group, Inc.  Lou brought Tonry into the realm of cloud-based systems paving the way for us to respond quickly and easily to the recent pandemic.  With a passion for IT and entrepreneurship, he is also a co-founder of Tonry Business Services. 

Black and white picture from 1989 of five men who work for Tonry

 

In 1989, after outgrowing our space in the Prudential Tower, the agency was relocated to Crown Colony to allow easier access for clients and employees.

 

Picture of Tonry's Lexington office buildingIn 2000, we formed Tonry Insurance Agency, Inc. and expanded our Small Business Department and the number of service locations through the acquisition of the Northwest Insurance Agency, Inc. of Lexington, Massachusetts, and Nashua, New Hampshire, and did business as Northwest Insurance Agency.

We subsequently sold the Nashua office and doubled the size of the Lexington office within five years. In 2007, we changed the name of the agency to Tonry Northwest Insurance Agency, Inc. and opened an office in Webster, Massachusetts.

Picture of GSD Insurance Agency's office building in Nyack, NY

In 2016, we merged into one company – Tonry Insurance Group, Inc. – uniting all of our locations under one organization.  Shortly thereafter, we acquired Stoeckel Insurance Agency, Inc. of Quincy, MA, sold our Webster, MA location, and invested in GSD Insurance Agency Inc, in Nyack, NY.

 

In 2017, Lou Tonry’s daughter, Kelsey Tonry brought us into our fourth generation.  Kelsey graduated from Providence College with a B.S in Business Management.  Kelsey serves as our Agency Services Manager while training in Commercial Lines. 

 

In 2021, with advances in technology and a flexible work environment reducing our need for space, we sold our Quincy location. Photo of building located at 150 Grossman Drive, Braintree MA Much had changed in the 30 years we were there and it was time to adjust.   Our new office in Braintree opened in May 2021 and we look forward to many visitors!  

The agency has ambitious plans for growth and service to its customers. We strive to be the best at what we do.