Tribute Wall
Loading...
S
Sue Erbele lit a candle
Friday, October 29, 2021
//s3.amazonaws.com/skins.funeraltechweb.com/tribute-gestures/Candle3.png
I only knew Ed for a short time, but I felt like it was part of God’s plan. Ed was RIFed(reduction in force) into Family Services. I had been out stationed at Mt Vernon Hospital and decided to come back to the office after the start of Welfare Reform. When I returned, they put my hyphenated name( Erbele-Shumate)on the inbox in the mailroom. One day when collecting my mail, Ed was there and he asked if I knew Michael Shumate. I told him that was my husband’s brother. Ed knew Michael from the Vietnam war and had met my husband before. My husband was an alcoholic. It took several years, and all Ed did was be nice and to share information. Another co-worker who I met at college also shared info since she had attended Al-Anon in the past. I went back to church amid grief from my husband and ended up separating with him going into rehab. I attended Al-anon meetings and read the daily readings. The things that happened along the way led me to divorce my husband. When I was much better, Ed left the Family Services for another job in another Department and I went back to the out-station at Mt Vernon Hospital. I have always thought that Ed was one of those angels leading me along the way and am forever grateful for his kindness and care.
j
jgiacofci@msn.com lit a candle
Saturday, April 25, 2020
//s3.amazonaws.com/skins.funeraltechweb.com/tribute-gestures/Candle4.png
"Eddie", as I fondly remember him by, and the "Ricer", as Father Kiernan, (The Abbey), referred to him, was my dearest friend and college room mate for the years we spent together at Belmont Abbey. Eddie and I were inseparable during those days. We joined Sig Ep Fraternity together--when you pledged Eddie or me, it was a two for one deal--unquestioned. He and I on more than one occasion, "hitch-hiked" from the Abbey to Charlotte. On one trip, we were "picked-up" by two young ladies from Gastonia, one of whom has now been my wife for nearly 50 years. Several times, Eddie would launch off from Richmond on his motorcycle and head to my home in Silver Spring, Maryland--unannounced, as free as the wind--"stopped by just to see ya Mrs. G." as he called my mom. "Oh come on in here Eddie--" That would turn into an opportunity for him to "slide his knees under the table" for dinner---then--back on to Richmond! He was dearly loved by my parents.
Now, like the wind he has left us. I just recently saw this announcement, and while so very saddened, know full well that Eddie is in a very good place. While I've often thought of Eddie, wondered what he was up to, and was always going to reach out to him---time, life's adventures, and twists and turns along the way--got in the way of reuniting. I regret that, but will always hold dear the fond memories of "Eddie" -- "The Ricer" and our days together walking the grounds of "The Abbey" , hitch-hiking I-85, and "tapping" a keg of beer with him at the Sig Ep "Barn" Frat house. God bless your sole "ROOMIE". Joe Giacofci.
S
Sheila Rice lit a candle
Thursday, February 13, 2020
//s3.amazonaws.com/skins.funeraltechweb.com/tribute-gestures/Candle3.png
S
Sandy Febraio uploaded photo(s)
Wednesday, January 22, 2020
/public-file/7393/Ultra/96dcfcab-c82e-4925-8fbe-0ed4aadfe820.jpg
/public-file/7394/Ultra/cae3fa18-2276-4bac-abc6-d453ec655368.jpg
When I first met Ed, he was working as a counselor for disabled veterans. He had served in Vietnam in the 1st Air Calvary Division of the Army. He had a deep respect for military duty and veterans and he rode in the first Memorial Day Rolling Thunder motorcycle tribute to fallen soldiers of the Vietnam war.
When I knew him his passion was his motorcycles. He meticulously maintained them. He restored and customized them and put his own mark on them. His Kawasaki, Norton, and Ducatis all bore his stamp. They were clean, minimal, beautiful, but not too perfect, they were Ed. They were works of art on wheels. He and a devoted group of buddies rode them year round on the back roads to the mountains, and rivers, to camping and fishing spots.
I'll remember him at his happiest, wearing his tattered t-shirt and worn camos, standing beside a lake, motorcycle in the background, with a cigar in hand and a big wide grin on his face. I'm sad Ed is gone and I hope he is free now to ride off on his beautiful red not too perfect Ducati.
P
Patricia Leisy uploaded photo(s)
Saturday, January 18, 2020
/public-file/7381/Ultra/28e03ce3-a64a-43c4-8dd0-6fe2600d4234.jpg
/public-file/7382/Ultra/3b3323cb-95c5-428f-a8c2-0ec09dc3640b.jpg
/public-file/7383/Ultra/9a1ec752-5655-4238-aa90-d0a32a2a59c0.jpg
Tribute to Ed Rice
Ed Rice was a positive influence on me whether he intended to be or not. Starting in 1975 we three (Bob, Ed and I) worked together at Fairfax Hospital. He and Bob became fast friends. Ed was the Best Man at our wedding and throughout the years always made me feel like a welcome member of our group of three. Ed was the first male friend I ever had. He gave me sage advice over the years, the best being to go on and finish my bachelor’s degree.
You always knew when Ed was around; there would be laughter and fun. This was true as long as we knew him. But later in life there was also an introspective side that emerged that revealed his self-awareness and wisdom.
His love of fast moving vehicles certainly included airplanes. He had a deep fund of knowledge especially about World War II aircraft and not just American but German and Japanese aircraft too! This came to my attention when the three of us took a trip to the Annual Oshkosh, Wisconsin Air Show in 2016. He was so thrilled to see all the vintage aircraft and excitedly rattled off stories and specs about nearly every plane in sight.
I think those who knew Ed for any length of time saw his sense of humor and eventually learned about his love of Italy. One year those two characteristics collided in a hilarious Christmas message he sent with an old picture of him in his Army fatigues and the announcement of a campaign titled:
“Let’s Help Send Ed Back to Italy!”
For years he waxed eloquently about the country’s attributes and pretty soon we became infected with his enthusiasm and in 1999 took our first overseas trip together to (where else but) Northern Italy. It was there that I learned Ed liked fast boats. He had no interest in a slow gondola ride in Venice, but his eyes lit up at the sight of a wooden motorboat for hire – so off we went (50,000 lire later) zipping through the canals! Ed was in his element and it was on that boat ride that he showed me just what seizing the moment looked like. He also loved the mountains so when we visited an Italian village in the Dolomites he made it known that he’d love to take a ride on a chair lift and proceeded to tell stories of his skiing in the Dolomites when he was stationed in Italy with the Army. It wasn’t hard to find a chair lift ride in the Alpe di Siusi, so the next day off we went up the mountain on the nearest lift. We couldn’t know it at the time but this would become a frequently sought after activity in our travels with Ed!
Ed was interested in seeing the United States, especially the West. Following the trip to Italy we knew we were compatible travelers and so in 2000 took a driving trip to see the Badlands, Mt. Rushmore, Devils Tower and General Custer’s Battlefield in Montana. Ed was enthralled with the animal life out west especially the prairie dogs. They melted his heart and revealed the softer side of this guy who also loved motorcycles for much of his life.
The three of us took several more trips together and enjoyed exploring the country. Ed was an early adopter of technology and loved the laptop and smart phone. But at the same time had great appreciation for vintage things from the past. So on a Route 66 road trip those two came crashing together when we booked a room at the historic Boots Motel that was restored to the way it looked in 1949. Ed couldn’t wait to get there and see it. It advertised, “For authenticity, every room has a radio.” Turned out the “Free Wi-Fi” was feeble Wi-Fi and Ed was in shock at suddenly really being thrust backward in time to 1949! It was a little too much vintage for him and he was in disbelief!
Ed was so very easy to travel with. He was content with every itinerary and I recall him making only one “special request” when he asked, “Hey, guys do you think we could stop at an Arby’s instead of a burger joint for lunch this time?” When we stayed in Taos for a few days, he nearly insisted, “There must be a chair lift up a mountain around here somewhere.” I had serious doubts that one would be open as it was September with no snow in sight. One day we took the 84 mile Enchanted Circle Drive and darned if we didn’t come upon an OPEN ski lift giving rides up to the top of the Red River Ski Area. We pulled over, bought our tickets and jumped on the triple seated chair lift and up the mountain we went! He was quick to chide me with, “See Pat, I TOLD you!” What a joyful ride it was all the way to the top. Ed was as happy as a kid on a chair lift.
In the fall of 2015 after his recovery that spring from a rough hospitalization which included a stint in ICU, he came out to Iowa for a visit. He was thin and weak. We had a good time reminiscing about our trip to the Iowa State Fair several years prior and Ed’s day at the fair consuming funnel cakes and sausages to his hearts content. Unable to re enact that experience, we instead made a day trip to Pella Iowa where bakeries and sausage stores are known to tempt visitors and Ed was ripe for temptation. Knowing he loved cookies, I encouraged him to try a Dutch Letter. He became an instant fan and moments after he stopped chewing it, he ordered a baker’s dozen and somehow crammed them into his knapsack for the return flight to Virginia the next day. It was during this visit I learned about Ed’s determination to continue his rehab and get his strength back. At this time he could walk only ¼ mile and then had to rest. He had a “Fit Bit” and told us with certainty that he was going to do everything he could to get better. Along the way he would send emails of his “Fit Bit” reports and photos of wild life he saw on the trails he walked. He truly enjoyed being out in nature. Over time he would eventually get up to walking 6 miles a day and his residual heart condition that had him so terribly worried completely resolved. He was true to his word and walked himself back to health!
In 2018 Ed came to Iowa to have reconstructive surgery on his left shoulder and did his 6 weeks of rehabilitation at our house afterwards. He worked hard towards recovery. He was confident he would get better and said, “I know what I need to do, I went through this before.” At his last follow up appointment with the orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Jason Sullivan, Ed had noticed that there was hardly any scar and concerned no one would believe that he’d had surgery so he asked, “Can you give me a tattoo that looks like a scar so I can at least get a LITTLE sympathy for my trouble?“
Our final trip, though we didn’t know it at the time, was this past summer to the Adirondacks and then Seneca Lake in the Finger Lake region of upstate NY. We’d talked for some time about going back to Northern Italy, but opted instead to visit the mountains and lakes Ed loved here in the US. He had repeatedly told us, “I want to go somewhere and have a little fun.” Thank goodness the chair lift to Mc Cauley Mountain opened for business the day before Ed arrived in Old Forge. We reminisced about the other chair lifts we three had been on and laughed and had a great time on top of that mountain too. Our last night in Old Forge we ate at a place overlooking First Lake and as we walked out of the restaurant Ed declared, “That was THE best grilled Cheese sandwich I’ve EVER had and believe me Pat, I’ve eaten A LOT of cheese sandwiches in my lifetime!” We all cracked up laughing as we got into the car.
Ed was full of surprises over the years. On several occasions he sent birthday cards via FedEx, NEXT DAY AIR! There was always more than one card in the package and they bore his unmistakable signature made with a sharpie!
He became a longtime friend of the Leisy family and his admiration for both TEK and Hank (my in-laws, Bob’s parents) was evident in so many acts of kindness over the years. Ed had a love for Asian culture and introduced them to a Korean birthday cake one time when he came for dinner. They loved it because it was unexpected, unique and quintessential Ed! When Hank died, Ed flew to Atlanta for the day to pay his respects to TEK and the family. For years, he sent TEK flowers on her birthday, and Mother’s day and big packages from “Harry & David” at Christmas. It was only after Ed died that we learned he also sent her flowers on every holiday! He was a big-hearted guy who demonstrated what free-spirited generosity looks like. I am grateful to him for his mentorship in that regard.
In August 2014 he wrote the following about hearing the news of his confirmed diagnosis.
“I was as (mindfully) present during the official verdict as I could be..... I also thought about Hank and Tek and my parents, and how that generation seemed to quietly accept their aging and final years with understated dignity.......”
Ed continued to live life to its fullest despite the multiple myeloma. It was not easy and it challenged him in new ways. He made a couple more trips to Thailand which he grew to love as much as, if not more than, Italy. He continued to dote on his beloved sports car and make improvements in its details. And he kept me laughing with his commentary on our travels, both past and present.
I miss his laugh out loud funny Emails, the back and forth teasing, his texts peppered with emojis, the notices about politicians gone bad, rock and rollers who had passed, how many miles he’d walked that day, his wonderful vocabulary and articulate way of speaking and writing. He loved to razz me about my eating of yogurt and Grapenuts. In one of the Hallmark birthday cards he sent last year, which had a critter on the front that looked like a prairie dog, he wrote:
Pat,
“I really must admit that your dogged adherence to a daily regimen of questionably healthy foods (such as peat moss briquettes with Nutella, braised birch tree bark, denatured unicorn urine, fat free yak tail bouillon soup, range free bullfrog pate etc etc) has really made a difference.......you look INCREDIBLE for 68!
Happy Birthday! Ed”
I still laugh every time I read it. I sent him an email to set the record straight and told him the real reason I “look incredible for 68” is that I’m only 66!
I sure miss you Ed. You were like an older brother to me, and also a wonderful friend who taught Bob and me much by your example. We were so blessed to have you in our lives for so long. Thanks for the chuckles and laughter along the way. Those memories of our warm joyful friend will sustain us.
Patricia Leisy
1/18/2020
B
Bob Leisy posted a symbolic gesture
Sunday, December 29, 2019
//s3.amazonaws.com/skins.funeraltechweb.com/tribute-gestures/Convertible.png
“Keep a fire burning in your eye
pay attention to the open sky
you never know what will be coming down."
" I don’t remember losing track of you
you were always dancing in and out of view
I must’ve thought you’d always be around
always keeping things real by playing the clown
now you’re nowhere to be found.”
Ed, you couldn’t outdance multiple myeloma, but that’s not what defined you. Rather, it was your generous personality, free-spirited nature and sharp wit that encouraged me and so many others. A collection of loyal friends and family between here and Thailand who will miss you deeply. I know there’s a Ducati up there with your name on it.
“Just do the steps that you’ve been shown
by everyone you’ve ever known,
until the dance becomes your very own,
and somewhere between the time you arrive and the time you go,
may lie a reason you were alive but you’ll never know.”
(lyrics by Jackson Browne)
I wish to acknowledge several of the physicians who have truly cared for Ed during his long life- Drs Michael Silverstein, David Dunning, Tim McCarthy, Brantley Vitek and Jason Sullivan. You mattered more than you know. (Dr) Bob Leisy
E
The family of Edmund Vincent Rice uploaded a photo
Saturday, December 28, 2019
/tribute-images/13118/Ultra/Edmund-Rice.jpg
Please wait
Adams-Green Funeral Home & Crematory
721 Elden Street | Herndon, VA 20170
P: (703) 437-1764 or (703) 471-4090 | E: bill@adamsgreen.com
