Edward Wallace Sieh

Ed grew up in Austin, Minnesota. He was getting ready for a Peace Core mission when he was drafted to Vietnam. The highlight of his time in Vietnam was the work he did in a Montagnard Village with the Civil Operations Team. The experience shaped his world view profoundly and The Peace Pole on the campus of Lasell University, erected under Ed’s leadership, is tangible evidence of his passion for peace, social justice and human rights. After a short stint as a probation officer, Ed pursued higher education and received his PhD in criminal justice from Rutgers University. He was a professor in Justice Studies at various universities, until his retirement from Lasell University in 2017. His colleagues were inspired by his commitment to his students, and his teaching was focused on human dignity and human rights in the justice system.

The biggest joys in Ed’s life were his children Matt and Annie, and his five grandchildren. He was at his happiest being goofy with his grandkids (Max, Rosie, Jack, Molly and Sydney) or on a fishing boat on a lake in northern Minnesota, listening to oldies, or cheering for his Minnesota Twins baseball team. Ed loved fixing things, dressing up and a night at the ballet, and watching old movies. Those who knew Ed remember him as someone with a quirky sense of humor, and a generous soul. Ed was always looking out for those who are less privileged. He personified the words of Proverbs 22:9, ”The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor”.

To honor Ed’s lifelong efforts to help those in need, in lieu of flowers, you are invited to make a donation to World Central Kitchen at https://wck.org. If you make the donation in memory of Ed, you can request email notification be sent to Edward Sieh at [email protected].