Edward James Tobin

January 20, 1936 - January 20, 2026

Ed passed away peacefully on his 90th birthday after a brief illness. He was surrounded by his family and received a tremendous outpouring of love and support from dear friends and compassionate caregivers during his final days.

Born in Rochester, NY on January 20, 1936, he was the son of Donald and Margaret Tobin and the eldest of five brothers. He grew up in Ontario, NY then attended the University of Wisconsin where he earned a degree in Agriculture and where he met his future wife, Marion Meany of Chicago, Illinois.

Following college, Ed served briefly in the Army National Guard then returned to his hometown of Ontario, NY to join the family’s canned fruits and vegetables business. Due to his hard work and natural leadership skills, Ed went on to excel in the food industry first with Ontario Kraut, Springville Foods and Manchester Foods and later with Curtice Burns, Inc. serving as the Chief Executive Officer and President of C-B Foods as well as a term as President of the American Frozen Foods Institute (AFFI) in the early 80s. He retired in 1993. Following retirement, he and Marion made their home in Englewood, Florida (winters) and Grand Beach, Michigan (summers) until Marion’s death in 2009. 

Throughout his life, Ed’s leadership skills extended to his community where he was a founding member of the Ontario Volunteer Emergency Squad, a member of Community Chest, a volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America and a member of the Wayne Central School District Board of Education, serving as President for two terms. Ed’s diplomacy and leadership skills were called upon even into retirement as he was quickly recruited to be President of his Condominium Association in Florida and served in that role for several years.

In addition to his successful career and involvement in his community, Ed pursued several hobbies in life. He was an avid sailor and loved to take his family out on Lake Ontario on his sailboat. During the 1970s, he fulfilled a lifelong dream by obtaining his private pilot’s license and flew small planes for many years with the Williamson Flying Club. He loved to fly on a sunny day, taking his family along whenever possible. Ed played golf and later played tennis well into his 80’s. He also enjoyed watching football, college basketball, golf, and baseball. He loved the opera, traveling throughout the world, and most of all, being with his family.

Quite often (as witnessed by his family) he was the unpublished author of witty humor. Ed quietly but persistently demonstrated by example what he valued, from the freedom that results from a well-disciplined daily routine to his love for his family and spirit of generosity. He prided himself on being a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend. He achieved all of these things completely and thus earned the respect and admiration of those who had the pleasure of knowing him. He will be missed and will always be remembered as the wonderful human being that he was.

Ed is survived by his brothers, Bob, Jim, Toby, and Richard; his daughters, Cathy, Peggy, Jean, and Amy, and their husbands, John Agnello, Mike McAuliffe, Russell Stein, and Keith Morales, his grandchildren, Sean Hargraves, Michael Roome, Erin Walder, Conor McAuliffe, Kellen McAuliffe, Emily Ryan, Nicole Stein, Margaret Stein, Claire Morales, Anna Morales, and Charlotte Morales; and his great-grandchildren, Tommy, Addie, Finn, Nell, Cal, Charlie, and Jamie. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Marion and son-in-law Thomas Roome.

A memorial service is being planned for May 2, 2026, in Ontario, NY.  Details to follow.  In lieu of flowers, his family requests donations be made to The Pines of Peace, The Alzheimer’s Association or The American Diabetes Association.