Funeral Details

Hello! Ed and I met for the first time at a roaring party in our ratty student housing on Race Street in Urbana, Illinois. To get away from the “roar” for a bit, we went upstairs so we could more easily talk (and, as I recall, so Ed could express himself with a box of Crayola crayons…don’t ask why). After some heady who-are-you-type “rapping,” as we once called it, Ed announced that we “would be friends for a very long time, not just into our 40s or 50s, but even into our 60s and 70s! To me, that was an unimaginable gulf of time 50 years ago, but Ed’s assurance proved to be correct, as we were on-and-off friends for five decades. Not to say there weren’t some difficult times, and months and even brief years where we were a bit alienated from each other, but I know I still received the inevitable birthday calls and even cards throughout. Ed truly valued his friends in ways that put aside ego and anger and petty incidents. If he was your friend, he was absolutely in it for the long haul…

So, what I really want to know is…what will happen to Ed’s voluminous daily note-taking about the events and ideas he obsessed over? And his incredible collection of clippings from the Chicago Daily News and Sun-Times? He always claimed there would be a powerful historical book out of this decades-long detritus…eventually.

Finally, I continue to tell one humorous father-and-son story about Ed in all sorts of settings. In 1973 or so (best guess), Ed told me, to his dismay, and with an emotional catch in his voice, that he had recently attempted to better connect with his dad Jack by telling him of a major recent accomplishment, i.e. “he (Ed) had finally perfected the rolling of perfect (marijuana) joints.” The rolling of Jack’s eyes was not the reaction he had been hoping for, however, and Ed was totally bereft that his father wouldn’t acknowledge this powerful achievement with the respect it deserved. At the time, in my own early 20s, I couldn’t conceive of leveling with my own father in this way. I hope Jack eventually came around, as his son Ed was rare in having the guileless enthusiasm and innocence to give true openness a shot with the older generation!

John Nelson

I love all this.....it so suits him...and his love for all he knew...my heart goes out to all of you

Rhonda Huston

Dear Buz and Joey,
I want to express my condolence to you in regards to Ed as I knew him through conversations through
the years. He was your older brother, so to speak, I never met him but I feel as if I know him
due to the many years of friendship with you. You always hear stories about the siblings and as I remember
Ed led life his own way, "the Bird" as he was called. Very similar to my older sister, Betsy, known as Eagle
at DU. The two were very similar I think. Nonetheless, I miss her very much and I know she is in a better place.
I hope that for Ed. Bob will follow, something about a monkey, I believe. Love, Em

Emily Louer

My sincere condolences to Sarah, all of Bird's Family and Friends, we have been friends since our Jr year when Eddy as he was then known went out for Track.
Ed migrated to the Pole Vault and we were friends ever since. The kindest person I met in High School, Eddy taught me that friendship was the most important
lesson from Athletics. It stays with you longer than any Athletic achievement.
He has remained a friend..........and always will be.

Adieu Bird.

William Brown

“Uncle Eddie”, that is how we referred to Ed in our house. We always looked forward to seeing him at family gatherings because no party was ever complete without him. He was a kind, generous soul with a huge heart. At one family party, he noticed my daughter quietly crying and unobtrusively went over to talk to her and the next thing I knew, she was smiling through her tears and hugging him. That he the kind of man he was I am grateful that I had the chance to know him for almost forty years. His memory will always be a blessing to my family.

Laurelle Stuart

I knew Bird through local politics. We had many coffees where we discussed races, candidates and issues. Bird always had great insight and was always energized. I so appreciated Bird's support of me and my campaigns--I could always count on him and Sarah in my corner. My sincere condolences go out to Sarah and to Bird's family. He was a singular person, and the world is a little less bright without his light in it.

Sincerely,
Eileen Dordek

Eileen Dordek

How a life force like Eddie could expire is beyond my comprehension. We lived together with three other guys my last year at U of I, and in the many years since then he never missed sending me birthday greetings on the day. He was the Great Communicator. The Great Documenter. I was a librarian, but I’ll defer to his greater skills at finding and classifying info. He recently insisted I return to Chicago, where he would find me a reasonable apartment. I didn’t make it, and neither has he. Life is short, but I am comforted by knowing he always did what he thought right and good and worth doing. Fare thee well, my dear buddy.

Paul Miller

I always have difficulty writing condolences, but with Ed, I have a lifetime of memories. I met Ed as an undergraduate at the University of Illinois. We became and remained best of friends for the rest of our lives. He was a builder and politician in Chicago and I was a forester in Oregon, two very different lives, but very complimentary. For 50 years we would talk extensively on the phone a couple of times a month, and visited each other as often as possible. Ed hated camping, but did so a few times in Oregon just to be with friends. I can do without city life, but Ed showed me the wonders of Chi-town. I became his “nature-maven” and he became my “political-maven.” We agreed on so many of the basic principles of life that we came to consider each other “soul-brothers.” His love of people was evident in the huge array of friends and colleagues with whom he constantly kept in touch. His bright and out-going personality was a marvel.

Watching Ed become Edbird and then Bird was a transition that evolved from his love of flying, flying in dreams, and watching (for years) a pigeon family in the tree outside his office window.

I only briefly met his father and mother each once, decades ago, but Ed’s love of his family was obvious in our wide-ranging conversations about what was happening in our lives. For instance, Buz, I believe you may still have a Dawn Redwood, that I grew from seed, planted in your back yard. In the last couple of decades of his life, Ed was also blessed with the Sarah’s companionship and his love just grew more abundant.

I could tell stories for days, but let me simply conclude by noting that decades ago we both read a new-age book titled “Handbook to Higher Consciousness” by Ken Keyes. It espoused sound principles for living a life of tolerance, happiness and love. One of the primary mottos was “Always Us Living Love.” Ed lived that motto and we can honor him by following his example. My sincere condolences to Edbird’s family and to all who knew him well. Keep on flying, Ed!


David Pilz

I first met Ed at U of I where we each rented a room in a house called The Slum. He came down the hall to get my help setting up a round waterbed that was so large, it was up against 3 of the walls of his room. We had some good times, for sure. He was a really good guy who will be missed. My condolences to his many friends & family.

Dave Phillips

When I moved to Chicago on Christmas Eve, 1989, Edbird was my first neighbor in Chicago. We watched "Its A Wonderful Life" and had dinner at Uncle Tannous a wonderful restaurant next door to our place . He quickly gifted me Mike Royko's "Boss" to read in order to bring me up to speed on Chicago politics and I became a regular celebrant at his "Roshoshana Fest" celebrations. He also allowed me to use his computer to aid in my job search and was always ready to help when needed. What will become of all of his notes that he took down when he was inspired? He jotted down some things I said. I suggested that he put all these "observations" in a book.

Ed - how could you slip away without a goodbye! Thank you for your friendship through the years. My heart breaks for Sarah and Ed's family - and for all of us who will no longer hear your laugh. He was so enthusiastic about his interests and passions. I always think about Ed during the election season and sometimes asked for his recommendations. I hope to see you in the next place Ed - David and I will be looking for you.

Jeannine Cordero

I first met Ed in late 1972, after returning to Illinois after nearly 2 years working as a field organizer in George McGovern's Presidential campaign. I think maybe our mutual friend Greg Goldasich introduced us. Initially I was taken aback by Ed's constant attempts to be outrageous, but eventually realized it was probably a means to conquer insecurities. Ed was a good and moral person and a great friend for almost 50 years. A kind and helpful guy who had great insight into the human condition, he was truly unique.

Rick Stenquist

Ed was kind and smart, compassionate and curious. He was a force of nature who will be greatly missed.
And he as the best client. Ever.

Fran Klus

I first met Eddie outside the main entrance to the Illinois Street Residence Hall in the Fall of 1968. He was an incoming freshman and I a sophomore 'greeter'. It was the beginning of a great friendship. My last year there we shared a house with Paul Miller and two others. I went to Cornell for graduate school and he came to visit that first year. Then we drove on a spur of the moment whim to visit our mutual fiend Paul in the Army at Fort Ord over a winter/New Year's break, staying with family members of Eddie's all the way from St. Louis to Monterrey and back. I eventually married in 1983. Eddie visited us several times in Denver. We once had lunch at a downtown Denver landmark bar called Duffy's. Eddie took one look at the land involved and said this place isn't going to be here in 5 years. He was right. He never missed a phone call on our anniversary or my birthday, most recently this past May. It was always so good talking with him. I cannot believe these calls will no longer happen.

Ned Grauel