Edward M. Wiacek

Son of the late Frank S. and Mary O. Wiacek of Woodbridge, Connecticut. Ed was born in Ansonia, Connecticut and when he was 13, the family moved to Woodbridge. He attended Amity Regional HS, graduating in 1958, the first graduating class that attended Amity for four years. After high school, he worked seasonally at Racebrook Country Club in Orange where he also caddied for many years.

In 1963, Ed attended the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at UMass in Amherst, Massachusetts where he attained an associate degree in Turf Management in 1965. After graduating from Stockbridge, he matriculated at UMass, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1968.

While at UMass, Ed met Deborah Pratt, the woman who would be his wife for more than 52 years before she passed away in 2019. He is survived by his son, Matthew Wiacek and his wife Leah, and grandson Gordon of Cambridge, MA, and son Stephen Wiacek and his wife Amanda, and granddaughter Elliana of Sterling, VA. He was pre-deceased by his sister, Carol, in 2005 and by his younger brother, Richard in 2019. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews and a multitude of great nieces and nephews.

After graduating from UMass, Ed got a job as an assistant golf course superintendent at Canoe Brook Country Club in Summit, New Jersey. Several years later, he became golf course superintendent at Oak Lane Country Club in Woodbridge, Connecticut. While in Woodbridge, their son Matt was born at Yale-New Haven Hospital which at the time was one of the first hospitals in the country to allow husbands in the delivery room. His travels took the family to Rhode Island when he became superintendent at Rhode Island Country Club in Barrington, Rhode Island. While at Rhode Island Country Club, Ed became the first golf course superintendent in Rhode Island to become a Certified Golf Course Superintendent under the auspices of the Golf Course Superintendent's Association of America. Having spent ten years actively in turf management, he switched careers and went to work for Scott Fertilizer of Marysville, Ohio where he was an area representative for 12 years, covering southeastern New England. His son Steve would frequently ask, "Where are you going today, Dad?" The reply was often, "To the moon" because he had driven enough miles in his career to have gone to the moon! The latter part of his career was spent with Verizon where he worked for eight years before retiring in 2008. Retirement couldn't hold him back; he went on to work part-time at the Country Club of New Bedford until August of 2024.

Having lived most of their married life in Rhode Island, Ed and Debbie settled in Bristol, where they resided since 1972. They were members of the First Congregational Church in Bristol where they made many life-long friends. Ed was also a member of United Brothers Lodge No 13, I.O.O.F where he served as Noble Grand. In addition, he was also a member of St. Alban's Lodge No. 6, F.&A.M. where he served two terms as Master and 20 years as Treasurer. He was also a long-time member of Bristol County Elks Lodge, No. 1860.

Best known for his sardonic wit, Ed managed to find a touch of humor in most situations. Once on a flight to Milwaukee, as the plane was over Lake Michigan they hit an "air pocket" and the plane dropped about 50 feet. People were screaming, un-attached articles became airborne. His supervisor, who was seated in the same row, had a white-knuckle grip on the seatback in front of him. When he looked over, Ed was still reading a magazine! The supervisor asked, "Didn't that bother you?" to which Ed replied, "What are you going to do? Get out? If the plane is going down, we're going with it!" Sometimes, in dealing with company reps on the phone and they had to go to another screen would say, "It'll be just a second". His response would usually be, "Time's up!"

Private arrangements are in the care of the Wilbur-Romano Funeral Home, Warren, with a memorial service to be held at a date to be determined. Contributions in Ed’s honor may be made to St. Alban’s Lodge No. 6, F.&A.M., 363 Hope Street, Bristol, RI 02809 (www.stalbans6.org), and to the First Congregational Church, 281 High St, Bristol, RI 02809 (www.fccbristol.org)