Adrian Edwards

EDWARDS, ADRIAN "ED" 4/22/1936 - 3/29/2022 BLUFFTON, SC Adrian "Ed" Edwards, 85, died peacefully with his family by his side in Bluffton, South Carolina on March 29, 2022. He was born on April 22, 1936 in Grand Falls, Newfoundland, one of 18 children of Patrick A. Edwards and Mary C. (Murphy) Edwards. Ed graduated from Notre Dame Academy in Grand Falls, Newfoundland; St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia; the University of Detroit and then The Ohio State University with his Ph.D. in Finance. For 42 years, Ed was a professor of finance and commercial law at Western Michigan University. As a former hockey player at Ohio State, he was asked to coach the university's club hockey team in 1966. His work as head coach, fund raiser, and occasional player paved the way for Bronco Hockey to become a varsity sport four years later. Known for being whip-smart on and off the rink, Ed was given the nickname "Doc" by players, who used it with reverence as he became a referee, coach and player in the over-30 league, where he played until he was 70 years old. Ed held many positions on campus such as the Chairman of the Faculty Senate, Chair of the Athletic Board and faculty representative to the NCAA. He ended his career at Western Michigan in June 2006 as the interim Dean of the Haworth College of Business. After long days teaching and evenings coaching hockey, Ed came home to a loving family and, always after dinner together, excused himself to develop his successful financial consulting business. Ed is survived by his loving wife Josephine "Jo" MacIsaac Edwards, whom he met at St. Francis Xavier in Nova Scotia and married on August 31, 1963. He also leaves behind four children: Molly (Todd) Gassel, of Tega Cay, South Carolina.; Dr. Amy Edwards (Rufus Decker) of Arlington, Virginia; Dave Edwards of Atlanta; and Dan (Jen) Edwards, of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. To carry on his legacy are eight grandchildren: Ava and Annabel Gassel, Carson and Bryce Decker, Mason and Amelia Edwards and Caden and Jackson Edwards. Four of Ed's brothers survive him: Rex Edwards of Bathurst, New Brunswick; and Reg, John and Wally Edwards of Grand Falls, Newfoundland. Ed and Jo were charter members of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Portage, Michigan, where he served for 38 years as budget director. He is a member of St. Gregory the Great Parish in Bluffton, SC. where a memorial service is planned for May 28, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Memory Matters, Hilton Head Island and the Western Michigan University Foundation.