Dad (aka Ed, Big Ed, Eddie Boy, Pop, Papa, Uncle Eddie or however you knew our Dad), made the Big Leagues on October 18th, 2022 from St. Joseph Hospital in Bangor, due to complications from Alzheimer’s Disease. Heaven has gained an incredible man and will laugh a little louder and shine a little brighter today as a result. Even in the throes of his disease, Dad never lost his sense of humor, whit, or any of our names. Dad kept telling us he was ready to go to Heaven to see his Dad (who had died when he was only a year old), his Mom, and his predeceased family & friends. FAITH, FAITH, FAITH and then Family and Country are what Dad always preached to us. Dad’s legacy will be his reputation, his family, and the strong faith in God he instilled in his children.
Ed’s Story: Ed was born in Boston, MA on April 9th, 1936 to Lucy (Madden) and John (Jack) Armstrong, both of whom were born in St. John’s Newfoundland and later immigrated to Boston. Ed was the youngest of seven children. He spent his early years in Dorchester, MA until his widowed mother received word from the State that they qualified to move into the projects of South Boston. Dad said he loved moving to the projects because everything was new and they had a refrigerator. He attended Catholic Grammar schools and then Boston Trade High School where his Major was Printing. While attending Boston Trade he obtained a job as a messenger boy with the Boston Herald Traveler (Boston Herald) and later graduated as Class Salutatorian. He then attended Staley College of the Spoken Word and majored in speech. He was a 10 year member of the Massachusetts Army National Guard (1953-63) and a graduate of the Officer Candidate School Massachusetts Military Academy. Ed served in Armor as a tank commander received and honorable discharge.
His business experiences included working in the Production and Sales Departments of the Boston Herald Traveler; Sales Manager of The Silver Lake News in Pembroke MA.; Account Representative for Photon electronic typesetters in Chicago, IL; owner and publisher of a weekly newspaper “The Observer” in Hampden, ME; owner and publisher of a Horse magazine in Maine; and founder and publisher of the monthly publication The Maine Snowmobiler. In 1976 he was one of the founding fathers of the The Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine (SAM). In 1979 he purchased H.P. Snowman Printing Co and in 1995 created and started Presort Express a mailing division of H.P. Snowman. In 2008 Ed next created REMM financial LLC, that specializes in secure statement printing for banks and businesses. One of his crowning business achievements was receiving the Governor’s Award for Business Excellence in 2011, recognized as having one of the top businesses in the State of Maine that produced quality products for both businesses and individuals alike.
Ed’s memberships included serving on the Katahdin Council for the Boy Scouts of America; the Black Bear Board of Advisors; the Maine Aviation Historical Society; the Maine Graphics Arts Association; the National Association of Presort Mailers; The Kiwanis, Rotary, Elks, Masons and Anah Shriners among others. Ed was a big booster of the Boy Scouts of America and was proud that he had two sons and three grandchildren who are Eagle Scouts. Ed was also a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Volunteer for children and along with his wife Mary welcomed foster children into their home for over 20 years. He also wrote and published a book called Penitence and resurrected and manufactured an old board game called Nine Stones.
His outside activities included hunting, fishing, snowmobiling as well as traveling. Dad loved laughing, reading, playing chess and listening to classical music. He was a man full of love and was predeceased by his Mother, Father, and six siblings. He is survived by his wife of 64 years of marriage Mary, his six children: Robert, Jeannie, Mark, Rich, Kristine & Bill, 15 Grand-Children and 13 Great-Grand children along with several Nieces/Nephews, and Great Nieces/Nephews..
Visiting hours will be from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, October 28, at Hampden-Gilpatrick Funeral Home of Brookings-Smith, 45 Western Avenue, Hampden, Maine. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated 11:00 AM, Saturday, October 29, 2022, at St. Paul the Apostle Parish, St. Matthew’s Catholic Church, 70 Western Avenue, Hampden, Maine. Gifts in Ed’s memory can be made to Alzheimer’s Foundation at www.ALZ.org. Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com
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