Final Performance - 09/15/2020
On September 15, 2020, the legend we knew as a beloved husband, daddy, grandpa, pampa, papa, big papa, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin, and friend, earned his well deserved pair of angel wings.
Ed's story began in Massachusetts, where he was raised by his mother, Christine alongside his two younger brothers, Joe & Bruce, and sister, Dee. In younger years, locals were starstruck by his amazingly natural talent to yodel, sing and play the guitar like a pro. His outfits were one of a kind, as was he.
Freshly graduated from Mahar Regional High School in Orange, MA, he enlisted in the US Marine Corps with four of his close friends, on a whim. He proudly served our country for six years and received an honorable discharge in 1966.
After years of performing at jamborees and country western concerts, Ed learned the skill of drafting and business management, and began building a career as an independent contractor in the mobile modular industry. During that time he was also a foreman and property manager in Vacaville, CA.
When his work was complete and he acknowledged all of his
accomplishments, him and his wife, Brenda retired to Kelford, North Carolina.
While in NC, their neighbors and church members quickly became good friends, and in the past couple of years were great support to both of them.
Of all his many accomplishments, his greatest pride was in his 8 girls, lovingly called Deb, Nan, Cher (Doug), K (Dave), and Bren (Harry), daughters of Lorraine. Tiffy (Chris/"Guy"), daughter of Edna, and Ang (Tre), & Em, daughters of Brenda.
Through the years, he earned the cross country title of Grandpa, Pampa, Papa, and Big Papa, to the following: Joey, Kara, Josh, Nate, Jessica, Jerrika, James, Bubba, Jake, Tyler, Selina, Steven, Amanda, Allen, Zachary, Dyl, Dakota, Jordan, Aria, Zach, Sawyer, Aly, Bradley, Oliver, Tucker, Jules, Lexi, Eli, RJ, Zeth, and Kass.
Depending on what era of his journey you may have crossed paths, you may have known Ed as a talented musician/entertainer, fellow Marine veteran, mechanic, jockey, baseball player, bar owner, drinking partner, golfing buddy, cribbage champion, solitaire player, inventor, teacher, boss, compass/navigator, story teller, or protector. He was a man who could build and fix absolutely anything.
Ed was a hero to most, the following were some of the people who greatly impacted his life: Roy & Rick (brothers he met too late in life), cousin Linda, Marine buddies; Ralph, Richard, George, and Earl (Semper Fi); Eddie Bezio, Kelly, Larry, Roger, Fran Clark (the Buck to his Merle), Uncle John, Aunt Helen, many special in-laws on all sides, and way too many more wonderful and supportive family and friends to list.
Being the person he was, he didn’t want anyone fussing or crying over him. With his sense of humor, he would rather see us laughing and having a good time in his honor. We would love for anyone who was touched by his life to share a moment, thought, or story on his memory wall.
At this time there will be no funeral service. As per his wishes, we will be organizing a celebration of his life at a later date (TBD).
We don’t do goodbyes in our family, so as dad would say, "see you later".
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