Edward Alfred Yerha

Edward Alfred Yerha, a brilliant mind, lived his life serving and loving his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God’s majesty and our Lord’s promise of everlasting life is now complete by his death in the arms of his loving wife of 31 years, Carolyn Antoine Yerha.

Ed was born in Paterson, NJ, the son of the late Alfred and Edna Mae Yerha.

Ed was accepted to Harvard yet chose to attend the avant garde “Metropolitan Leadership Program” at New York University, where he could enjoy lectures by world famous leaders. Ed also proceeded to major in English and linguistics and expanded his fluency to 7 languages.

Ed was an actor in many performances, one of which was “Twelve Angry Men.” Robert Redford was in the audience and approached Ed after the show, Ed was so excited but to his dismay Redford asked him to get him a cup of coffee dashing all hopes of a youthful acting career.

Ed was a member of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Paterson, NJ where he served as church President for 25 years alongside with his best friend Ken Dickson. He served as the youth adviser for the NJ District and organized nationwide trips across the country for Youth Gatherings. He was the youngest member on the board of directors for the NJ District LCMS. He was a Bible scholar and walked the steps of Jesus three times on trips to Israel, one of which he led.

He started his career at IBM in the mailroom and soon became a Tax analyst. Please don’t get a number or spelling wrong, as Ed will be sure to let you know! In 1995, IBM moved him to Cary which was the best thing ever. Ed and Carolyn became members of Resurrection Lutheran Church where he also served.

Ed was a lifelong Carolina Tar Heels fan, especially Dean Smith and Roy Williams, although at times Ed wanted to change some of Roy’s coaching calls. Over the course of his life, he remained a passionate baseball scholar and statistician extraordinaire. He was a contributory member of SABR, Society of American Baseball Research. He loves sports so much that on their honeymoon he took Carolyn to Cooperstown.

Ed was on “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” twice with Regis Philbin when the show first started (no did not win) and qualified for Jeopardy 20 times but his name was never pulled out of the hat.

Ed was a Presidential scholar which he carried through his whole life as a public servant. His Grandson Liam is following his Grandpa’s love of Presidential history.

He loved Cary and helped mold “The Cary Way” and served on boards and commissions for 15 years and on the Cary Town Council for a decade, once as Mayor Pro Tem. His impact in preserving Cary’s history was exemplified when the town honored him by naming a park near his home after him. Ed was so very moved by this kind and thoughtful gesture.

His loves were his wife, Carolyn, stepchildren Michael Antoine, wife Catherine, granddaughter Emma, Colleen Bottcher, husband Richard and grandson Liam and grandson Max, Cousin Jerilyn Caprio, daughter Alyson and Jeremy Schoenfeld and daughter Mia, Cousin Linda Burmeister and children Michael and Suzanne and Meg and Danny, Jeff and Amy and family. Brother-in-law Jim Antoine, wife Luisa, children Jimmy, Carly, Michelle, Kenny and Robbie and their beautiful families.

Our family wishes to thank Amy Cathey who lovingly cared for him many years as his Physical Therapist and dear friend. Many thanks to Dr. Rukmini Menon and Dr. Womble and Transitions Hospice for their expert care. A heartfelt thank you to his cherished friends and neighbors for their unyielding support. Many thanks to the folks he worked so many years with at the Town of Cary.

Ed loved Jesus, Ed served Jesus, Jesus took him home.

Flowers are welcome or donations may be made in Ed’s memory to:

Parkinson’s Foundation

1350 Broadway Suite 1530

New York, NY 10018

Or on their donation page

Resurrection Lutheran Church

100 W. Lochmere Drive

Cary, NC 27518