Ed Armanini

When someone is identified as a natural leader, certain images come to mind. First thoughts are of a no-nonsense, tough-minded, dedicated and disciplined person. This description accurately fits Ed Armanini who was indeed a born manager. He will be remembered as being highly organized, practical and realistic. He was a person who always carried a strong sense of duty with him throughout his life. Possessed with traditional “old school” morals, Ed was an individual who clearly communicated to those around him just who he was and what he was all about. Everyone acquainted with Ed knew him as a well-respected man who was a stable force in his community.

His parents were Anthony Simon Armanini and Mary Sarah Montovani. Ed was raised in Springfield, MA. Even as a youngster, Ed learned to be objective and decisive. His faith in the principles of authority and dependability was something that he carried with him throughout his life.

As a young boy, Ed was able to put his natural abilities to work. He was a bit like the sergeant of the family, helping to make sure that the others did what they should do and that they avoided those things they weren’t supposed to. In other words, he liked to organize and direct. Ed was raised with one. He had on sister, Doris Armanini Kane. Ed had an inborn appreciation for the order in the family, allowing for the oldest members to be the most respected and to take on the most responsibility. For Ed, this was a natural order of life, one he gladly embraced.

Ed's matter-of-fact attitude about most things was developed during his childhood. As a young boy, Ed enjoyed being part of teams, and organizations and groups of other kids who shared similar interests. Ed took part in basketball and a little bit of football. In his spare time he liked reading.

In school, Ed was as close to being a model student as one could possibly imagine. He sought to achieve perfect attendance in all of his classes. He would eagerly complete his homework, and often put in extra study time when he felt it was necessary. A logical and focused thinker, Ed was always good at following directions and meeting his schedules, whether they were set by his teachers or were self-imposed. Ed’s personal motto could well have been, “Do it right the first time. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. His favorite class in high school was mathematics and algrebra.

Ed’s practical work ethic carried over into his college years. His logical mind permitted him to work hard without succumbing to the usual distractions of college life. He would tackle an assignment and work through it before moving onto the next project. Ed’s orderly nature gave way to establishing personal study habits and procedures that not only helped him stay on track but often put him ahead of schedule. When Ed saw the need or benefit, he would willingly take on the extra assignment or even attend extra classes in order to learn more and become a better student. He earned his B. S. In elctronics engineering. His favorite courses were electronics.

Ed was sociable and approachable. Because he was always so straightforward in how he approached relationships, friends and family knew that what they saw was always what they got. He enjoyed the camaraderie of being with a group of friends. When Ed was a member of a group, his interaction worked to keep the others grounded. He wasn’t afraid to confront his friends and, when necessary, he challenged them to stick to the task at hand. Those close to Ed came to expect his high standards of performance. Later in life, he became friends with Travis, Ernie, and Marshall.

An objective and conscientious individual, Ed reveled in the security of his family. One of Ed’s most endearing qualities was his uncanny ability to remember important dates and anniversaries, and his unending enthusiasm for organizing a celebration for his family and friends.

Ed was ever watchful of his children. He worried about them and was deeply concerned for their development as they grew up. He maintained a firm hand in their upbringing. Ed would give his stamp of approval to their requests, as long as he could see how they might benefit. He also had the ability to enforce the rules as needed to ensure that his children were properly raised. Ed was blessed with two children, Ted and Mark. They were also blessed with one grandchild, Elizabeth Armanini.

Being a hard worker who praised efficiency, Ed was always striving to make improvements where they were necessary. He was able to analyze situations and problems, keeping everything and everyone on track. An excellent project supervisor, Ed was a person who could quickly make decisions based on the information available. He worked cooperatively and expected the same from his colleagues. In both his personal and professional environments, Ed upheld his standards. His primary occupation was aerospace engineer. He was employed for 25 years as an engineering specialist and telemetry command at Ford Aerospace. Ed was a team player who certainly lived out the motto of “give me a job, and I will get it done.”

Ed was an Army Veteran. His sense of duty helped lead him into the military where his understanding of rank, his willingness to abide by rules and regulations and his desire to follow orders was admired by his fellow service men and women. He served some time in Europe. Ed saw action for WWII. Through his hard work and dedication, he achieved the rank of Private First Class. He received several awards recognizing his for his heroism, including a Purple Heart, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, and WWII Victory Medal.

Ed approached his leisure time in the same manner that he approached his life. A person who enjoyed being neat and orderly and one who understood the nature of things, he appreciated the hours he was able to devote to his various hobbies. His favorite pursuits were his beer and wine collection. Ed was content to enjoy his favorite pastimes alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Playing by the rules was a natural thing for Ed to do in life and that carried over to his enjoyment of sports. In his college years, Ed continued to stay active by playing bocci. He also was something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were football.

When it came time to travel or take a vacation, Ed used his scheduling expertise to make sure everyone and everything was ready to go. That also meant that he made certain no single person was overworked in putting the trip together. Ed had a knack for making sure that everyone who was involved had their specific tasks and that those tasks were completed. Favorite vacations included going to Alaska.

Ed was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. One of Ed’s favorites was Pinocchio, his cat. They were best friends for four years.

When Ed’s retirement finally arrived in 1985, he was well prepared. He used his critical evaluation skills to make sure that every detail had been preplanned and attended to. His new life involved relocating to Las Vegas, NV. In retirement, he found new pleasure in sleeping in until 9:00am, sine tasting, and meeting friends at various casinos for good wine and dinner. In many ways, Ed loved retirement. It provided him with the opportunity to catch up with his friends, attend functions and group outings, and tackle new interesting activities.

Ed passed away on October 29, 2019 at His home in North Las Vegas, NV. He is survived by his wife, Olivia; sons, Edward and Mark; step-daughters, Judy and Carol, and sister, Doris. Services were held at Palm Northwest Mortuary. Ed was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery.

All who knew him would agree that Ed was a pillar of the community. He lived his life with his feet firmly on the ground. He had a strong work ethic, was pragmatic in his thoughts and acts, and constantly sought the means for self-improvement. He was willing to share his ideas and knowledge for the benefit of others, so that they could accomplish more in their lives. Ed Armanini did his best to ensure that his family, friends, loved ones, co-workers, and everyone whose life he touched was given the chance to become a better person.