James E Edwards

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, uncle, and friend, James E. Edwards. “Jim” passed away at his home with family on January 10, 2022 in Lutz, Florida at the age of 91. Jim was born on March 16, 1930 in the Bronx, NY, to Lillian and James Edward Filippone. Growing up in the Bronx, he was known as “Red” for his hair and complexion. At seventeen, he enlisted in the Naval Reserves and became a Merchant Marine, sailing routes within and around the Atlantic, the Caribbean Islands, Cuba, and Guatemala.

After ten years at sea, Jim returned home to get his bachelors degree at Fordham University. Recruited by AT&T’s Executive Training Program, he spent the next thirteen years at Bell Laboratories and was a proud member of the Telstar Satellite program, serving on the team in France that facilitated the first live transatlantic signal to the United States. It was at Bell Laboratories he met his wife, Betty. They married in 1972 and had their son, Jeff, in 1975.

Jim spent the next decade in the automative industry working for General Motors as a consultant and General Manager. In 1983, he began a successful twenty-five year career as a financial advisor in south Florida working for Kidder Peabody, Great Western, Amerifirst, and AmTrust Investment Services. In his retirement, he volunteered time to his church and charitable organizations which included relief efforts in Haiti and help to migrant families in the Florida community. He remained an active financial advisor, seeing it as his mission to help others achieve their needs. But Jim always considered himself a sailor, at home on the water. When he wasn’t boating, sailing, skiing, or fishing, he loved talking about boats.

One of his proudest moments was seeing his son graduate from West Point in 1998. In the years that followed, Jim was always the welcoming host to Jeff’s friends and had a tremendous appreciation for the military community. He also had a great love for his nephews Greg, Gary, Gino, Glenn, Gerald, and niece, Gail. He was a truly engaging listener and a positive source of encouragement to many that knew him, always emphasizing the value of faith in God and perseverance.

Jim was a loving father and husband, a devout Roman Catholic, and a kind soul to many. He was preceded in death by his parents and his younger brother Robert Filippone. He is survived by his wife of fifty years, Betty Marie Edwards, his son Jeff “Eddie” Edwards, and daughter in-law Jeanette Edwards. To honor his request, his cremains will be blessed at their church and taken to sea in a private ceremony. In lieu of flowers, the Edwards family appreciates donations to the Guatemalan Maya Center on his behalf at www.guatemalanmaya.org/donate.