Found this on the whiteboard on the fridge yesterday. ❤️

I’m in total disbelief that you are gone, my heart is aching. I remember when we first met you were a firecracker chasing after me. We had so much love for each other that we never thought we would be apart that you had your dad buy you a beautiful diamond promise ring to show your love, we did everything together. Connie was so jealous that her and I had so many fights over you then you would play you dumb phone pranks on us as if we called one another lol you were just loving it, you loved your pranks. We lost contact as we got older but we never forgot each other, you told me I was the one you wanted to merry but i broke your heart and felt it was cuz down deep I had figured you were gay and wouldn’t be happy to be committed. I never realized how hard this would hurt and all the tears I have shed, I remember at Connie’s services you told me I could die before you since you could handle this loss and I know know what your meant it’s just killing me. I love you and guess I have always, I’m so glad you met Mike cuz he’s a wonderful guy which you deserved. ❤️

I will miss Ed  One night when I was visiting Ed at the apartment near Melrose He got a call from work. From Concorde that the power went out. We went to his work so Ed could restart all the computers. It was past 11PM. The Employees had torn the vertical blinds down to try and get some light into the building. So I went to re attach the vertical blinds while Ed worked on the computers and we tried to calm the Employees.

We are so sorry to hear about the loss of Ed.  He always lit up a room and was an amazing person!

I am so sorry to hear about Ed's passing. He brought so much light and laughter into every room and every person he met.  

What an absolute gut punch. I met Ed at DSG like so many others. You could tell from day one, he was singular, somewhere between a person and a way of life. You couldn't imagine a world big enough to have two Ed Hunters in it. 

He was into fixing people, typically a nightmare trait in a boss, but damn if I didn't see him actually do it. He walked right in and started fixing everyone and everything. I swear some days that whole place got by on his energy alone.

It would probably be an overstatement to say he hated me at first. I was a kid when I met him and I wasn't picking up leadership signals no matter the wavelength. I didn't give him any particular reason to always go out of his way to be awesome to me but he did anyway. I think he did with everyone. He was genuinely happy for me at every milestone, and willing to share whatever he was way-too-into at the time. It was a blast whenever we caught up and I'm pretty broke-up that we won't again. 

So thanks Ed. Thanks for your unfailing kindness and your unfailing cool. I can't imagine the loss for Mike and the loved ones closer in your orbit. Even from way out here the world is a smaller place without you in it. 

Mike, I am so sorry to hear about your husband's passing.  I can only imagine the incredible difficult time this must be.  I can see from the few pictures posted of Ed, he was a guy with a great sense of humor and love for life.  

May Ed Rest In Paradise and may you be comforted by the light and  love of all that care for you and knew Ed.  

My deepest sympathy, Mike.  I will hold you in prayer. 

Mike, it was lovely to meet Ed when I came to visit you in LA. It was 20 years ago, which I find hard to believe. Ed was very kind to me and made me feel very very welcome in your home, and you showed me the sights of LA - including Disney Land!  My deepest condolences and love to you and to all of Ed's friends and family

We were taken to the Inn of the Seventh Ray for a birthday lunch and Ed immediately said that if we could ever get married, that would be the place. We didn't think it would ever happen but then society changed, for the better, and it did. And it was beautiful and everything Ed and I wanted. He played this video for anyone he met. And so, I post it here, although I can't watch it right now. 

I first met Ed while I was a caller at DSG back at the Sunset location..the “glory days!” It took a couple years to before I was introduced to him, but I would always notice his remarkably positive energy as the rest of us were dealing with misery on the other end of the line.

Near the end of my tenure at DSG I took on a new role at the company and Ed was tasked with showing me the ropes. He constantly made himself available and provided me with excellent business insight that I will be forever grateful for.

Fast forwarding a few years, I was on vacation in Thailand with some old friends. I checked my Facebook and happened to see that Ed was there too, probably enjoying some much needed tropical weather in February (and DEFINITELY dancing his ass off)! I reached out to him to see if any of our travels lined up, but no such luck.

A couple weeks later, we had a 12hr layover in Beijing. After a short but (very) hungover tour of the forbidden city, we made it back to the airport and who do we run into? ED! Him and Mike were being super classy and enjoying the business class lounge. Rather than enjoy a relaxing few hours before a long flight home, Ed brought my friends and I up to the lounge, introduced us to Mike, and treated us like we were family. We shared many drinks, laughs, and stories from past travels. I appreciated his comedic relief on the flight as well, as he made sure to drop in occasionally to let us know that his seat was more comfortable than mine!

My one memory of Ed pales in comparison to those of you folks who knew him better. But that memory is something I’ve thought about quite often on the last few years, and especially these last few days. I wanted to share it because I hope it’ll bring a smile to everyone else who knew him. Mike, thank you for putting up with my friends and I on that day 😂. I’m so sorry for your loss. Ed was incredible guy. I’m glad he was able to have such a positive impact on our lives while he was here. 

I was so sorry to hear about Ed's passing. He was such a  Bigger-Than-Life and  radiant person. I will forever remember him that one night belting out Despacito song. His authentic and vivacious personality really lit up any space he shared.  He was 100% unapologetic!! Larger than this life …  

I meet My Eddie-Freddie(the name I affectionately gave him) in 1990 at Concorde. I Loved him from the very beginning he was full of life and was always there for me. My heart is truly broken his memory will forever be etched in my heart.

Mike I’m truly sorry for your loss. I will keep you in my prayers.

It has taken me some time to process this. It is unimaginable to me that Ed has passed, yet in a way it makes sense. He now will forever be young, vibrant, effevesant, youthful in looks and a force. He did not slowly fade away as is often the case as one ages. On more than one occasion, Ed said to me- I can’t and will not live without Mike. If Mike goes first that will be the end of me. I cannot exist without him. Prophetic? I don’t think so. It speaks to his utter, complete devotion and love to Mike. A love that all of us rarely get to bear witness to. Ed and I met at 24 hour fitness, in a boot camp class. It was an immediate attraction. 9 years ago I lost my brother in a sudden, unexpected way and since then there had been a deep void. Almost immediately Ed filled that void. We connected on a deep level, one that I can only partially understand. We were fast friends, workout partners, competitors, confidents, Him and Mike were there for me in a manner I honestly have never had before, Unequivocal, with open arms and hearts. Ed was so special to me and I would like to think I was to him. But Ed is special in general so thats an easy one. We went in hard with our friendship and it wasn’t without some conflict. Do I regret the conflict, perhaps yes. I wish we had had the moment to reconcile. But regardless, I loved him deeply, respected him immensely and learned SO much about what it means to stand up for those you love. He was there for me in so many times of darkness and suffering. He was also there for me in times of levity ( his xmas parties, CrossFit competitions, caring for my dog). Ed had a massive heart, integrity, emotional intelligence, compassion. He was a man of honor, conviction, passion, love, laughter and sweetness. I will miss him forever, but I truly believe he is up there somewhere doing what he always did-looking out, protecting and upholding those he loved. Rest In Peace Ed. I am so honored, and blessed to have known you. 

(Stolen from Joyce White's FB) This is perhaps as innocent as Eddie would ever be in life, circa 1975-1976 — with Joyce White

So I’ve been thinking about what I can share about Ed, because while I write this about Ed, this is for you Mike, and I wanted to try to do this right.  

Ed was fierce, passionate and at times chaotic.  As a young 20 something (I’m far from that now) at my first job in the workforce, he was my first boss and never in my wildest dreams would I have ever imagined us building in many ways an enduring relationship/friendship that lasted years.  In many at work we weren’t set up to succeed professionally/personally because we were supposed to be competitive with one another, yet we weren’t.  We drew on each others strengths and complemented each other’s weaknesses, but most of all we respected and cared for on another.  And he set the tone for that.  He was a good boss but an even more amazing mentor and friend.  It was because of him I found my voice and he gave me the courage to draw healthy boundaries in my life around my own family and their substance abuse issues.  He made my feelings and my voice matter and I will always be grateful to him for helping me understand the concept of a “chosen family” and that it’s okay to make your happiness a priority.  Ed cared about people, he gave so much of himself to so many, there were many end of day shifts he’d be so wiped from trying to support everyone that you could see the color drained from his face but he would never ever leave the call center without making the rounds to say Goodnight to everyone for one last touch of “I care about you”.  If you were lucky enough to be close to Ed you could feel his love, passion, loyalty, humor and honesty, those individual characteristics are not easily found  in one person let alone all combined.  

To Mike - you two are very special pairing and my heartbreaks for you in this moment but just know there are so many of us here for you and I’d like to think that was Ed’s last gift to you because he loved you that much.

To Bossman— you are simply the best and I will miss you for whatever time I’m blessed with on this planet but just know you made a difference to so many especially this once upon a time 20 something yr old.

Love you always

Taco Lady