I would like to share a few of my favorite memories of Ed along with my journey with him.

I’ll start with two of my favorite memories:

1. Ed loved going to museums. I was lucky enough to get to go with him. I will forever treasure these trips. His excitement for an artist or a drawing or painting was contagious. He had a mesmerizing way of getting me to see the art piece through his eyes.

2. In the early 2000’s during an evening training session at a small studio on Foothill & Briggs, I was sitting at a bench painting amongst a room full of teachers that Ed was training. “Somewhere over the rainbow” by Iz came on the radio. At the time, Sher was working in her office, he pulled her out of her office, grabbed her by the hand and slow dance with her in the middle of the room. I got to witness a beautiful moment.

I started working for KidsArt / Drawn2art 23 years ago. I was hired at the age of 19. I had no art background and quite honestly didn’t know what direction I was going in. I met Ed in 1999. Ed wore many hats in the business, one of which included training new teachers in a teacher training program that he developed. As he trained teachers, I did odds and ends around the studio as a studio aide. I was always in awe with what his teachers were drawing and painting. Ed picked up on my interest and asked me if I wanted to learn too. Without any hesitation, I said yes! This is where my learning journey began with Ed. It started with homework; I drew he critiqued. Eventually, I landed a seat in his teacher training sessions.  Before I knew it, he had turned me on to a lifelong passion for art and teaching. In time, I got teach the kids with him. When he was teaching, he was in his happy place. After gaining some teaching experience, I was offered the position of teacher training. This is a job that only Ed had done before. I knew that I had big shoes to fill. Ed took me under his wing. He “showed me the ropes” as he would say. I observed his every word, his every move. I soaked it all in. He had a capitative way of teaching. I shadowed Ed for a length of time. I eventually stepped in his shoes and started training teachers. I remember he would always tell me “You have to take it from me”. I think he was referring to a term in martial arts. At the time, I didn't quite know what he meant by it…

After many years into training teachers, I modified the sequence of the training program. Keeping “the bones” but adapting it to fit the growing curriculum. I set up examples of the modified training program at every bench, as I walked the room with Ed, I explained the why’s and how’s. By the time we got to the end of the room, I realized Ed has been completely silent. For those of you who knew Ed well, know that silence wasn’t always a good thing. As I looked over at him, he had tears in his eyes and said, “You did it, you took it from me” with a smile on his face.

Ed would always ask new teachers in training how many teachers “Rocked their socks”. The answer was usually one to two sometimes three, more than that was rare. For those of you who are reading this, I would like to ask you the same question: How many teachers rocked your socks? For me, it’s one, it’s Ed. Ed was born to teach. He was my biggest cheerleader. He was my Sensei, my Leonardo, my Yoda, my Jiro who dreams of art. I am forever grateful for him and for all the valuable lessons he taught me. I am honored that I get to continue to a part of his dream, his legacy. 

Ed worked with my mother Darlene Carey and she suggested he come to me for massage therapy. That was more than 20 years ago. We shared every other Sunday at 2pm for so many years. He loved The Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel and Vivaldi. We laughed, cried and swore together. 

When Ed wanted to share his business expertise he would say “this is Uncle Eddie telling you this as if you were one of my own” His wife, children and grandchildren were his heart.

Ed could talk like a bad ass from Jersey or the kindest soul you could ever hope to have in your life.

On Hanukkah 15 years ago I asked if he would light my menorah and share their ritual with myself and my sister. He immediately called Sher placed her on speaker phone and they sang together as he lit the candles. This is a memory I will hold in my heart always.

My love to all the Warrens, I am sorry for your loss, and the loss we all are feeling. You are in my heart.

Susan