Edward Charles Witherell

Edward Witherell was born December 18, 1945, Cuba, New York. His parents Leslie Witherell and Catherine Burger are now deceased. Ed died on July 24, 2024 in Port St. Lucie, FL, from complications after surgery. He is survived by his daughter, Kristen Witherell-Pignone of Londonderry, NH, and his son, Brian Witherell of Bath, NY. During most of his 79 years, he lived in Olean, Wellsville, and Portville, in western New York.

During his Olean High School years, class of '64, Ed worked at the Olean Theater and the Ho-Sta-Geh Restaurant, which enabled him to buy his first car. That '56 Merc--primer black with a turquoise top--earned him a place among the "motorheads", that is, guys with cars. He was at ease behind the wheel cruizin' or at a traffic light meeting the challenging glare of the guy in the next lane, revving his engine. Ed was relaxed and aware of the police nearby. He allowed the challenger to scream away on the green, blow his engine, and get pulled over by the police. Ed moved ahead calmly, confident in his wise assessment of the situation. He liked a challenge, but he didn't have to win.

Sitting under the hood inside an engine compartment was a natural and comfortable position for Ed. Having assessed the problem

"He was skilled enough to take it apart"

"Patient enough to put it back together"

"Smart enough to hide the extra parts when done"

His mechanical skills and knowledge extended into house construction with his father. Then he operated his own dental laboratory for 3o years. He was still constructing, but these were crowns, dentures, and dental prosthetics. The smile and heartfelt thank you from a store clerk whose life was changed dramatically with new teeth that Ed had created was affirmation enough of the value of his work.

Ed was a patriot and veteran of the Army National Guard. He recognized the strength of character and physical stamina required by the Army, and rose to that high standard right out of high school. He earned marksman medals and became a tank commander. Wow! A motorhead with a tank under and around him! Those were challenges and experiences he spoke of proudly and fondly.

Here in Florida, Ed's 40' cruiser with 2 powerful engines has been his ongoing project. Researching information and parts and people has been as much work as climbing into these engines with tools in hand. His perseverance, knowledge, intuition, and attention to detail were always his modus operandi. Ed's sense of humor accompanied him along the way.

"Everything on your boat is broken. You just don't know it yet."

In recent years, Ed reunited with his Olean High School sweetheart, Barbara Fugazzotto. (The boat was named "Our Second Chance".) Their relaxed Florida lifestyle included some travel to Sicily where Ed felt at home with the people and culture there. Perhaps it was his many friendships with Italian friends in Olean that opened his Irish heritage to "the Italian spirit in him." Barbara grieves the loss of her first love, her last love, having hoped for more time to grow old together.

Ed Witherell was self-taught in many of his pursuits. He was a thinker, a gentleman, and a man of integrity.....And a Motorhead right to the end.