Edward Sylvio Desmarais, Sr., 91, of Belleair, FL passed away April 23, 2025. He was born on August 16, 1933 in Nashua, NH to the late Eugene Peter Desmarais and Delia Eva Belanger. In 1968 Edward moved to Clearwater, FL from Worcester, MA.

Edward leaves behind Natalie, his beloved wife of 62 years; son Edward ‘Ted’ [Holly] Desmarais; four grandchildren: Matthew [Liz], Anna, Samuel [Clara] and Stephen; and three deceased brothers: Henry, Wilfred and Raymond who was killed in action on the USS Franklin, March 1945.

Edward graduated from North High School. Worcester, MA in 1951 and in 1976 received his BA degree in Criminal Justice from St. Leo University, St. Leo, FL. He was a graduate of the FBI Academy Command School. He served in the US Army during the Korean War.

Edward began his law enforcement career with the Clearwater Police Department in 1969, being the first ‘Officer Friendly’, developing and publishing the Officer Friendly Handbook for Teachers. In 1972 he was honored as Policeman of the Year, then rose through the ranks to become Deputy Chief of Police in 1985, serving in that position until his 1991 retirement. He then served as bailiff with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Department until he retired in 1998.

Edward was a 3rd degree member of the Knights of Columbus in Largo, a member of the American Legion and a parishioner of St. Cecelia Catholic Church, Clearwater, FL.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, April 29 at 10:30 AM at St. Cecelia Catholic Church, 820 Jasmine Way, Clearwater with burial at Sylvan Abbey immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to St. Leo Abbey or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. https://www.saintleoabbey.org/donate or https://www.stjude.org/donate