Born September 18, 1928 in New York City, Ed was the youngest of three children of Anthony Oetheimer and Caroline (Lahr) Oetheimer. Ed was raised in Jackson Heights, Queens. He was a good student and won admission to the prestigious Regis H.S. He earned a degree in Business from New York University attending classes at night while working days. He met his wife of 61 years Joan K. (Coakley) Oetheimer of Flatbush, Brooklyn, when they were working in the same bank branch.
Ed and Joan were married April 24, 1954 at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Park Ridge, New Jersey. They raised three children, Richard, Robert and Janet, in Park Ridge. Ed coached Little League baseball and youth basketball. Family vacations were spent at the Jersey Shore or Cape Cod, often in the company of Joan’s large extended family. Ed had a long and successful career as a commercial lending officer in Manhattan, first at Chase Manhattan Bank and later at National Westminster Bank.
Following retirement, Ed and Joan relocated to Cape Cod. They loved hosting their children, grandchildren and family at their home on Kelley’s Pond in West Dennis. For 20 years until 2015, Ed and Joan spent their winters in Vero Beach, Florida.
Also in retirement, Ed traced family back to Germany. He and Joan traveled with Richard and Ed’s sister Marge to Germany to meet his cousin Erich Oetheimer, also born in 1928, and Erich and Ed celebrated their 75th, 80th and 90th birthdays together.
Ed loved sports, and Joan loved to tell the story that on their first date he took her to the Friday Night Fights and she “married him anyway”. As a child he spent many afternoons with his Uncle Frank at the old Polo Grounds watching the New York baseball Giants and later he went to the old Yankee Stadium to root for the football Giants. After moving to Massachusetts, he switched his allegiance to the Red Sox and Patriots. And he greatly loved his Springer Spaniel dogs, Ginger and Janet’s dog Maggie.
Ed is recalled as a man of tremendous character. He could always be counted on to do the right thing and he instilled the values of hard work, honesty and respect. And he showed true grit in remaining independent in his home after Joan passed in 2016.
Ed is survived by his children Richard and wife Jill of Needham, MA, his son Bob of North Quincy, MA, his daughter Janet Coppinger and husband Glenn of Needham, granddaughter Kate Oetheimer and grandsons Chris Oetheimer and Kevin Coppinger, sister-in-law Anne Gesner and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife Joan, he was predeceased by his brother Anthony, a New York City police officer killed in the line of duty, and his sister Margaretha of Rochester, NY.
A small graveside service for immediate family will be held. Burial will follow immediately afterward at Oak Ridge Cemetery, Route 134, South Dennis. The family hopes to be able to have a memorial service or tribute at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Edward’s honor may be made to The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), P.O. Box 37920, Boone, IA 50037-0920.
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