Edward Baer Roberts

Raised with his sisters, Charlotte Chaffin and Wilma Bieler, in Chelsea, Massachusetts, by Russian immigrants, his father Nathan drove an oil delivery truck, and his mother Edna ran customer service.

As a child, Ed dreamt of attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He achieved this at 17, and stayed for 71 years. He earned four degrees, and became the youngest-tenured professor ever at that time. Researching entrepreneurship, a field he created, and mentoring and teaching students, gave him great joy.

A true entrepreneur, Ed co-founded numerous successful businesses, and financed over 100 start-up companies. He was most proud of his involvement with Meditech, SOHU.com, OKTA, and PR Restaurants.

He took great pleasure in supporting the arts, education, hospitals, and Jewish causes in Massachusetts and in New Hampshire, where he lived. He was patriotic, and believed in the opportunity America provided.

Ed loved and invested deeply in his family. After meeting Nancy – the love of his life – at 17, he created time, space, and experiences that brought his family together. He bought a house in New Hampshire, where his extended family could ski and celebrate Thanksgiving. He planned annual holiday trips around the world for the entire Roberts family, including multiple trips to Israel.

Ed had infinite energy, never slept, and was a lifelong learner. While known for his storytelling, his ability to listen with immense focus always made you feel loved.

Ed is survived by his wife of 64 years, Nancy Helen (Rosenthal) Roberts; by his children, Valerie and Mark Friedman, Mitchell and Jill Roberts, and Andrea Roberts and Marc Foster; by his grandchildren, Maxwell Friedman (Charlotte Franklin), Alexander, and Daniel Friedman, Noah, Sabrina, Ethan, and Ruby Roberts, and Solomon and Alice Foster; by his brothers-in-law, Richard Chaffin and Paul Bieler; by his sister-in-law, Linda Rosenthal (Marc); and by his nieces and nephews, Ellen Levenson (Jim), Susan Chaffin, Steven Chaffin (Penny Duan), Harvey Bieler (Olga Barbanel), Mark Bieler, and Warren Bieler (Ilene Fiszel Bieler), and Marjorie Rosenthal Lyons (Adam), and Steven Rosenthal (Maria), and all their children.

A funeral service was be held on Thursday, February 29 at 11:00 AM at Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward Street, Newton, MA. Interment was at Sharon Memorial Park, Sharon MA.

Shiva was announced at the service.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Combined Jewish Philanthropies, www.cjp.org