Edward Lifmann

Edward Lifmann of Alexandria, Virginia passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 22, 2023.

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Helen Dubaich Lifmann, daughter, Heather Lifmann Elkins , son-in-law, Adam Elkins and grandsons Evan and Grant. He is further survived by his family in the Netherlands and Switzerland, and his daughter from a previous marriage, Karna Hazelhoff-Castellon.

Ed frequently said, "I have lived a good life." This is true in both senses of the word 'good.' Not only was his life beautiful and full of adventure, but he also made decisions personally and professionally that echoed his value system and strong work ethic.

Ed was born on August 18, 1922, in Rotterdam, Netherlands where he was raised with his brothers, Robert and Gerard. After surviving the bombing of Rotterdam in May 1940 and the rest of World War II, Ed immigrated to the United States via Ellis Island, New York, on the Nieuw Amsterdam in 1948. He later naturalized as a U.S. citizen in 1955.

Quickly settling into New York, Ed became a titan of business, first serving as the president of Sovereign Watch Company, a subsidiary of BENRUS. As his career continued, Ed transitioned into the food industry, where he worked for over 50 years. Among many impressive positions, Ed served as the chief operating officer for Orange Company and chairman of the company's subsidiaries, Arthur Treacher's Fish and Chips Inc. and the Orange Company of Florida Inc. He also served as the first director of international operations for McDonald's, opening their first stores across Europe and Asia. Ed later became the first director of international operations for Burger King and then served as the international director of Wendy's. After 25 years working for fast food corporations, Ed founded Trans-Atlantic Consulting, where he advised Fortune 500 global brands such as Kraft, McCain, P&G, and Coca-Cola on how to pursue opportunities globally.

Ed's life was punctuated by five recurring themes: family, business, horses, travel, and his love for Africa. They were not always in that order!

Family was normally first among these themes. He dedicated his life to Helen and Heather. He consistently planned elegant family vacations and prioritized his daughter's sporting events over business responsibilities whenever possible. On weekends, he could be found attending Heather's games or tournaments, harassing referees, and earning red cards for her team. Family was everything to Ed, and he made it clear to his wife, daughter, and extended family.

As an avid athlete, Ed participated in field hockey, boxing, skiing, ice hockey, and soccer among others. As he grew older he settled on tennis and horseback riding which he enjoyed well into his mid nineties. You could often find Ed competing on the tennis courts of the Army Navy Country Club, playing a match with Helen, or fox hunting with his "horse people" as a proud member of the Potomac Hunt Club.

Travel was also an evident passion of Ed's. He spoke five languages and traveled the entire Pacific Rim from Amsterdam to Japan for business. For years he traveled to Europe every four weeks and to Africa every six months.

Africa was a part of Ed’s identity. He was either there or planning his next visit. He fell in love with the country's wildlife, culture, and beautiful people. Ed made nearly 60 visits to Africa during his lifetime and chronicled his adventures through his incredible photography.

Despite knowing it was time for him to go, Ed will be incredibly missed by those who knew and loved him.

Some heroes are defined by a moment; some are defined by their lifetime. The latter applies to Ed.

Hup Holland, Hup!

REMEMBERING ED LIFMANN

A remembrance service will be held on Sunday, September 17 at 6:00 p.m. at Army Navy Country Club in the Williamsburg Room. The family invites you to bring a photo of Ed and a story to share.

Donations in Ed's name can be made to the following organizations: Foxes' Community and Wildlife Conservation Trust (FCWCT). Learn more. https://www.mwagusicamp.com/fcwct/

Additionally, Ed's family invites you to share your memories of Ed below in the Guestbook. His family would love to hear your recollections to carry on his memory to later generations.