Edward Leon Gresh, 65, of Gainesville, FL passed away May 4, 2011 accompanied by his family in the E.T. York Hospice Care Center in Gainesville after having suffered a sudden heart attack on April 23rd.
"Big Ed" will be remembered as an outstanding Cox Cable employee and gregarious Tropical Sno owner-operator during the 1980s and since then a highly recognizable character around the UF campus. For more than twenty years as Senior Communications Engineer he designed and built campus-wide networking solutions and earned many accolades, including the University President's Award for Excellence.
He will also be celebrated for his efforts to help those in need, his abiding love for his children and grandchildren, and his unmistakable zest for life.
Ed was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and spent most of his childhood there; he lived in Hawaii as a toddler and in Raleigh, North Carolina as a teenager. He attended East Carolina University and was a member of the Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity for two years before enlisting in the Air Force. He ultimately served as a telecommunications engineer at Clark Air Base in the Republic of the Philippines, where he married Myra N. Cash in 1968. After his honorable discharge he moved to Gainesville to attend the University of Florida and later raise his family. While Ed and Myra divorced in 2004, they remained affectionate friends, fondly keeping in touch over the years. In July of 2009, he and Peggy Goldberg held a beautiful wedding ceremony in the Baumann Center on Lake Alice, followed by a Hawaiian honeymoon.
He was preceded in death by his father Lt. Col. (USAF) John Andrew Gresh, mother Wilhelmina "Eleanor" Masavage Gresh, stepmother Audrey Hope Gresh, and his guardians Marvin Reynolds and Martha Adeline Masavage Reynolds ("Aunt Agum"), whom he treasured as dearly as beloved parents.
He is survived by his loving wife "Peggy" Margaret A. Goldberg of Gainesville, his devoted daughters Jennifer Gresh of West Palm Beach, FL and Tiffany de Berry of Lake Worth, FL, and his cherished grandchildren Kamila, Elana, and Nevan.
An open house in celebration of his life will be held on his beloved UF campus Saturday, May 21st from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Atrium Room 200 at Ustler Hall. E-mail jengresh@att.net for details.
Ed was a proud Galloneer blood donor, and his family asks all who are able to honor his memory by donating a pint of blood to their local blood bank. Memorial contributions to E.T. York Hospice Care Center are appreciated.
Published in Gainesville Sun from May 15 to May 16, 2011
