Edward A. (“Ed”, “Eddie”) Sykes

Ed Sykes died on February 3, 2021. He was born in Bethesda, MD and grew up in Vienna, VA. He had a love for music and proudly played in the high school marching band at James Madison High School. (According to Ed, marching band was cool not dorky.) After high school, he attended the University of Virginia where he spent the next 18 years, earning a BS, ME, and PhD in Systems Engineering before joining the faculty. While at UVa he met Jerry Stiffler, whom he referred to as the love of his life. Jerry and Ed moved to Cary, NC in 1995 where they established a software development center, building a close-knit team and fostering a collegial, collaborative environment of excellence. After 30 years together, Ed and Jerry were married in Las Vegas in 2017.

He spent his career in roles as SVP, Chief Scientist, and CTO for Make Systems, OPNET Technologies, and Riverbed Technology where he authored numerous patents and engineered multiple acquisitions. Throughout his career he was known for his intelligence, curiosity, thoughtful approach, and business acumen. After retiring, Ed enjoyed being a mentor in the Council for Entrepreneurial Development’s Venture Mentoring Service.

Ed was a man of few words, but when he spoke people listened. He was brilliant and had a wicked sense of humor. He was soft-hearted, kind, and generous.

He loved spending time at the O’Neil family camp at Lake Ozonia in upstate New York, vacationing in Montreal and Las Vegas, keeping up with friends on Facebook, and reading The Washington Post and New York Times.

Ed was a “car guy.” He loved fast cars and classic cars, and like his Dad, he enjoyed working on them. He restored several classic cars, but his favorite was his first car - a 1963 Lincoln Continental that is still on the road today.

Ed was an animal lover and cat person. His care of Miss P, a tiny newborn kitten he and Karen Sage found at night in a pouring rainstorm in the middle of Cherry Ave defined him. Miss P still had her eyes closed, had to be bottle fed every 2 hours, and was not expected to live. Ed nursed her back to health and she lived to be 22 years old. Miss P was spoiled by Ed every day of her long life. Other important animals in his life are Tabby, Elvis, Binkley, Mondo, Ling, Bud, and his latest, Maxie.

Ed is survived by his husband, Jerry Stiffler, his brother Alan Sykes, Jr. (Maureen Gorman), nieces Sophie and Maddie Sykes, and close friends/family: Andy Rioux, Annie Houpe, Karen Sage, Brent Johnson, Jeffrey Miller, Johnny Hunt, Margaret Stern, Norm Hubbard, Ginger Sykes, Cary Sykes and Greg Lorenz, The Austins, The Cottrills, Perri-Anne and Eddie Sims, Steve Stiffler, Helen Stiffler, Scott Stiffler and KK Kozik, Sherrie and Steve Freilich, and his extended OPNET and Riverbed family.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Al, Sr. and Emily Sykes and his in-laws Ed and Louise Stiffler.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research or your local animal rescue or shelter. Celebrations of Ed’s life will be announced shortly.

The family would like to recognize the nurses of the Duke 8-West MICU, especially Stephanie, Kenzie, and Alyssa for their care of Ed.