Edward “Ed” S. Lewandowski, Jr., 67, of Bristol, passed away unexpectedly on May 1, 2023 at Bristol Hospital. Born on January 6, 1956, in Southington, CT, he was the son of Edward Sr. and Norma Jean (Palardy) Lewandowski.

Ed, or “Little Ed” as many family members called him, was the only boy in his family with 4 sisters. His family was very important to him. As a young boy, the family lived next to a brook where Ed would fish crayfish out and put them in his little red wagon. He was a good athlete playing two hand touch football in the side yard with his family. He scored lots of touchdowns, proving himself as a true receiver. Ed worked as a Tool & Die Maker at Tollman Spring in Bristol for 40 years. He made many friends during his tenure there due to his endearing nature. Everyone loved Ed, even if he could be gruff at times. He was an avid sports fanatic. He could always be seen rooting for the Boston Red Sox, Boston Bruins and New York Giants without fail. He knew all the latest stats, trades, wins, loses, standings. He had an uncanny way of knowing what the next play was going to be and sometimes the outcome of the game! He bowled for 30+ years. He was super proud to have bowled not one but TWO 300 games! He golfed religiously for over 30 years as well. He could often be found on the links with his father Ed, Uncles Tommy and Jerry, his brother-in-law Mark Dion, nephews Scott Gauvin and Mark Dion. He held a special place in his heart for coins. As a matter of fact, we are STILL finding coins he had stashed around the house! He loved fishing, boating, riding his motorcycle in his younger years, rock music, going to concerts, bowling, golfing, taking road trips in his Jimmy, collecting coins, being outside, spending time with his family, especially his mom who he lovingly referred to as Mamacita (after the Christmas song) He was like a second father to many of his nieces and nephews growing up. Ed spent lots of his free time with them in their formative years. He truly was the “Cool Uncle”. He spent over 30 years building a life with his love Dayle. You rarely saw one without the other. When her health declined a few years back, he didn’t hesitate to become her caretaker. He cared for her till the end of her life in 2021. For reasons only known to them, they never married. His family takes solace that they are now reunited. Ed took a memorable cross-country trip in 1976 with his sister Sharon in her Datsun 240Z. The adventure found them sleeping on the Pentagon lawn, under the stars in Colorado with a family of skunks passing over them, acquired a sweet puppy named Cimarron, sped across the Utah Salt Flats at 130 mph, made fast friends with motorcycle friends in Vegas, crossed the desert to California and camped on the beach in St. Luis Obispo while visiting family along the way. It was quite an adventure! They still talked about all the fun they had on that trip, even as often as last week. Ed and his father, Ed. Sr, could often be seen watching sports on tv, riding motorcycles, bowling on a league, golfing with family and friends, working in the yard, working on cars together and collecting coins. The list is endless. Growing up, his best friend Rit lived down the street. They were inseparable, lifelong buddies and were like brothers. Ed loved nothing more than to be outside. Picnics, cookouts, sitting around the fire pit telling stories. The last few years, his health declined. He couldn’t physically do much anymore, but he would sit in the chair in the corner of the porch for hours, no matter how cold or hot it was. He met his friend Tony a few years ago. They spent much of their free time together. Every Saturday morning, they would go down to Robertson’s Airport, watch the planes and helicopters take off and then go have a coffee at Dunkin. Ed was a very generous person, opening his home to people that needed somewhere to go until a fire took away his home. He still thought of others and tried to help as much as he could, even though he had little left after that. We should all aspire to be like that.

Besides his parents, Norma Jean and Edward Lewandowski Sr., Ed leaves his four sisters and brother-in-law Marsha Gauvin of Bristol, CT, Sharon Winzler of Snead’s Ferry, NC, Ruth-Ellen DeNote of Bristol, CT, and Susan and Mark Dion of Port St. Lucie, FL, as well as his godparents, his Aunt Joan and Uncle Jerry Mackie of Bristol, CT. Ed also leaves behind 4 nephews, 8 nieces, 3 great nephews and 6 great nieces, several beloved cousins and many friends. Ed also leaves his best friends Rit Gagnon and Tony Hamilton. He was predeceased by his longtime significant other Dayle Hayden and his brother-in-law Tony DeNote. A funeral mass will be held at St. Gregory the Great R.C. Church, 235 Maltby St., Bristol on Wednesday, May 17th at 11:00am. There are no calling hours and interment will be at the convenience of the family. A memorial service will take place later this summer for all to pay respects (check the website for the date) and his ashes will be interred at the mausoleum at St. Joseph’s Cemetery with his love, Dayle Hayden. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Gregory the Great R.C. Church at the address above or by visiting www.stgregoryrcc.com/page/online-giving, to the American Heart Association by visiting www.heart.org, or to the charity of the donors choice.