Edward J. Lohan of Riverton passed away peacefully at home on Feb 14 ^th , he was 73.

A man of adventure, kid at heart, Ed shared his foremost love of the ocean and its sports with family and friends.  He adapted his interests to his physical challenges with determination, courage, and acceptance.  He was an inspiration to many.

Edward will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 50 years, Jane (nee Morano), daughters, Jennifer, Stefani, grandchildren, Lilly, Sienna, siblings, Marianne Vonbadins, Sean, Michael, and Maureen.

Services for Edward will be held at a later date.

I read of a Reverend who spoke at the funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on her tombstone from the beginning to the end.  He noted the first date of her birth and spoke of the final date with tears.  But, he said, what mattered most was the dash between the years.  That dash represents all the time she spent alive here on earth and only those that love her know what that little line is worth.  For it does not matter how much we possess, the cars, the house, the money.  What matters most is how we live and love and how we spend the dash.

How did Ed live his "dash"? With zest, humor, courage, and just being Ed with his family and friends.  No matter what adversity came his way Ed was by nature adventuresome, playful, and always in full speed. His nickname when I met him was "FAST EDDIE". Of course, his first vehicle was a motorcycle followed by a mini sports car that barely accommodated his six-foot plus frame. He bought me a stick shift mustang convertible as a wedding present and challenged me to learn how to drive it. He enlisted my mother's help to ride along with me.  To my parents, everything he did was "that's just Ed".

He was a captivating storyteller who liked to entertain his audience. He often Invited family and friends to experience sailing with him which frequently led to an unexpected "story line" that later became a tail of an adventure. The mast of his sailboat getting stuck in a raised draw bridge and stopping traffic from leaving Ocean City on Night in Venice was a showstopper that is legend. Many of his "story lines" were told and retold on his many Vermont ski trips delivering laughter to old and new friends.

Ed was a kid at heart.  He loved interacting with children. Adopting his daughters was one of the great joys of his life. Being a hands-on dad came naturally. He was a Brownie parent who could be found sitting at meetings with the moms before it was the norm for men to do such a thing. Singing,  " Where' s that bus" in the morning with Stefani before school was an Ed way of passing time. His many "fresh "catch dinners resulting from surf fishing with the girls in NC were always welcomed though sometimes small.

Being POP to his granddaughters was a treasure. Bouncing on equipment in the playground, or riding a log flume, or having the girls help him steer the bumper car brought out his "kid" side.

Living life to its fullest meant travel. He wanted to participate in the uniqueness of every place he visited.  Whether he was hiking, biking, snorkeling, scuba diving, rock climbing, or taking helicopter rides. Ed was spontaneous; standard tours were never an option for Ed. On a trip to Italy, on a rainy day in Florence, he chose sitting in a leather shop for hours conversing with the owner and employees from Romania rather than visiting the city's famous museums.

Ed was creative. Neighbors and friends were recipients of his painted bird houses. A curved stained-glass window of a sailboat he made is admired by many at our home to this day.

Having dealt with illness for over 50 years, Ed focused on what he could do, while never complaining about what he couldn't do. He never felt sorry for himself or said "why Me" but showed empathy for others who were in need. Appreciation for the kindness of others was freely expressed with a thank you and sometimes with a tear. Everyone had struggles; some more so than him.

What has inspired many who had contact with Ed during his illness was his determination and courage facing a relentless disease. He wanted to continue life being just Ed, enjoying what he liked and adjusting as needed.

On our last beach trip to NC Ed wanted to surf fish. His balance was poor but off we went into knee deep ocean water. I held him around the waist as the fishing line flew out from the reel. On one casting attempt, a wave knocked us down. He held so tightly to that fishing pole and laughed more heartily than he had in years. Turning towards the shore we encountered a beachgoer who had observed us.  He whispered to me "your husband has Parkinson's; my friend does too". The stranger then asked Ed if he could fish with him and the two enjoyed their time together.  Ed later thanked the "Good Samaritan" which is how he would refer to the strangers who kindly assisted him without question.

Enjoying life, fighting to live, sharing simple pleasures with those that he loved, continued to the end of his dash. Like his favorite ride in Disney World, Mr Toad's Wild Ride, Ed's life took many unexpected turns, but was steered by his strength and desire to share" by being just Ed".

By Jane Lohan