Christopher Robin Edwards

Christopher Robin Edwards, of Pembroke, a beloved husband, father, and friend, passed away on June 10, 2020 at the age of 87. Born in London, England in 1932 to Ida Payne Edwards and Christopher John Turner, Chris first married Irene “Rene” Royce in 1955 and they raised their son Tim in Knaresborough. He moved to the United States, married his wife Louise Sironi in 1979, and recently celebrated their 41st wedding anniversary. They settled in Hanover where they raised their son Matt. 

A man of prodigious and varied talents, Chris was an evacuee during WWII and overcame a childhood defined by the social and physical upheaval of the London Blitz to work a number of careers including Royal Navy sailor, draftsman, line engineer, photographer, salesman, puppeteer, teacher, primary caregiver, early computer adopter, and home architect and carpenter par excellence. Continuing to defy tradition, Chris retired in the mid-80s to become a stay-at-home dad, where he applied skilled work to home improvements, delicious cooking, amusing his son with cartoon sausages, and more than one suspiciously well-engineered and executed school project. 

Chris practiced a similarly varied number of hobbies, running marathons in the Navy, caving and diving with the Yorkshire Ramblers and Sea Scouts, golfing and playing tennis with friends. He shared his voracious love of reading, history, and music with his family. Vocally proud of his son Tim’s artistic talents, he loved both long phone calls with, and travelling to England to visit his son and grandchildren. The procurement of large quantities of Yorkshire toffee was strictly a side benefit. He also treasured road trips to Vermont to attend Sironi-Somaini family reunions and exploring genealogy with his daughter-in-law Mary. Generous and a jovial raconteur, Chris was a regular hit at parties and family gatherings and enjoyed nothing more than holding court and delivering a good lecture to adoring [sic] throngs. 

Chris cherished his wife Louise and together they traveled the world, but also loved nothing more than sharing a strong cup of tea (very sweet for Chris, no sugar for Louise) and curling up in front of a good Masterpiece Theatre. Although blindness curtailed his reading, Louise continued to read aloud their favorite mysteries and stories. 

Preceded in death by his mother Ida, father Christopher, first wife Rene, and sister-in-law Linda, Chris is survived by his wife Louise, sons Tim (Cindy) and Matt (Mary), grandchildren Anthony, Ryan, Jessica, and Hollie, half-sister Anne, cousin Terry, brother-in-law Steve, and nephew Jeff. 

There will be no immediate memorial due to COVID-19, but Dad always wanted a commemorative party, which will be held at a later date. Sourcing of the requisite marching band, stubborn pony, and Hercule Poirot impersonator have already begun. 

Special thanks to the staff of the Hospice of the South Shore and particularly to beloved family friends Joyce Kleinrath and Dorothy Nee for their care and support during an exceedingly difficult time.