Edmond Davis "Ed" Wulfe

He leaves behind his loving wife Lorraine, a devoted family, a loyal group of friends, long-term business and community partners, an untold number of individuals whose lives he directly touched, and a freezer full of his beloved chocolate chip cookies waiting to be eaten.

Born in San Antonio on the 30th of December 1933, Ed graduated from Texas A&M University and headed straight to Houston where he has epitomized the definition of “Houston Proud.” Although he began his career as a mechanical engineer, Ed made his move into real estate in 1960 when he joined Weingarten Realty. In 1985, he launched Wulfe & Co., a commercial real estate development, brokerage, and management company, where he demonstrated vision and leadership in the development of shopping centers and commercial projects that have changed the landscape of Houston.

Meyerland Plaza Shopping Center, his first major redevelopment project, earned two Legacy Awards for "Deals That Made a Difference." Ed’s revitalization of the once debilitated, but now thriving, Gulfgate Mall, generated ULI's 2012 Development of Distinction Award and two 2003 Houston Business Journal Landmark Awards as the "Best Commercial Real Estate Rehabilitation/Renovation Project" and the "Best Impact on the Community Project.” The development of BLVD place in the Galleria area received the Houston Business Journal's 2015 Landmark Award for Mixed-Use development.

Among Ed’s many achievements are recognition as one of five real estate leaders named by the Houston Business Journal as a "Titan" who helped shape Houston; induction into the City of Houston's Hall of Fame; The Center for Houston's Future Eugene Vaughan's Civic Leadership Award; Holocaust Museum Houston’s Guardian of the Human Spirit Award, CoreNet Global’s Houston Chapter Lifetime Achievement Award; the American Leadership Forum’s Exemplary Leader Award; the Houston Business Journal’s Commercial Real Estate Lifetime Achievement Award; recognition as a "Texas Legend" by Cadillac, Channel 11 and The Houston Chronicle; Greater Houston Partnership’s Visionary Award; the Park People’s Leadership Award; and the Galleria Chamber of Commerce’s Texas Legends Award. In 2018, Ed was honored with the Texas A&M Distinguished Alumnus Award.

Ed would do anything for this city. When the future of the Houston Symphony was uncertain during the 2003 Houston Symphony strike, he brought together the orchestra’s musicians, trustees and staff to successfully mediate a settlement and then agreed to serve as both President and Chairman of the Board of the Houston Symphony. Ed’s commitment to community service also included serving as Chairman of Holocaust Museum Houston, Main Street Coalition, the Stadium Land Redevelopment Authority, and the Urban Land Institute's Houston District Council; President of Congregation Emanu El; Vice President of the International Council of Shopping Centers; and on the Boards of the Greater Houston Partnership, Scenic Houston, Uptown Houston, The Texas Bowl, The Texas Heart Institute, and the Methodist Hospital Center for Performing Arts Medicine.

Ed is survived by his wife, Lorraine Wulfe; his children, Ellyn Wulfe, Stacy Wulfe, Sheryl Rapp and her husband Ernie, and Robyn Doyle and her husband Mike; as well as his seven grandchildren, Whitney Havins and her husband Danny Goldberg, Cody Rapp, Randall Fossi, Derek Fossi, Carly Rapp, Braden Doyle, and Brooke Doyle. Ed also leaves behind his wife’s children, Sondee Chalcraft and her husband Peter, Karin Gerstenhaber and her husband Gary; and grandchildren, A.J. Gerstenhaber, Clay Hatcher, and Kelly Hatcher; as well as his brother, Emil Wulfe and his wife Maxine. He was predeceased by his parents, Emmanuel and Cecile Wulfe; his sister Marjorie Lande and his brother-in-law Les Lande.

The family is so grateful for the tireless care and devotion provided by his team of doctors led by Drs. James Willerson, Patrick Herlihy, and Everton Edmondson; caregiver Lakisha McQuarn, and long-time caregiver and friend Tiffany Ervin.

Ed touched so many people during his life. His steadfast devotion and loyalty, leadership and mentorship, and boundless passion and enthusiasm will be greatly missed. He lived a full life and did it “his way”.

The public is invited to join the Wulfe family in a Celebration of Life at four o’clock in the afternoon on Tuesday, the 30th of July, at Congregation Beth Israel, 5600 N Braeswood Boulevard in Houston, where Rabbi Roy A. Walter and Rabbi Oren J. Hayon are to officiate. The synagogue has graciously opened its doors because Ed’s beloved Congregation Emanu El is under renovation.

Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the adjacent Levitt Hall.

Prior to the service, the family will have gathered for a private interment at Emanu El Memorial Park in Houston.

The family respectfully requests that no flowers be sent, but rather that memorial contributions in his name be directed to Congregation Emanu El, 1500 Sunset Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77005; the Holocaust Museum Houston, 5401 Caroline Street, Houston, TX, 77004; the Houston Symphony, 615 Louisiana St. Suite 102, Houston, TX, 77002; or the charity of one’s choice.