Edward R. Waite, 62, of Manchester, VT passed away on Saturday, December, 7, 2019, following a brief illness. He was born on May 1, 1957 at Putnam Memorial Hospital, to the late Donald R. and Dorothy (Sculley) Waite of Arlington, VT. Edward graduated from Arlington Memorial High School, Class of 1975. He attended St. Michael’s College in Winooski, VT and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in History in 1979 and his Master’s in Educational Leadership in 1983. Edward began his teaching career in History at Christ the King School in Burlington, VT in 1981. He moved to Stamford, CT in 1984 where he taught at Stamford Catholic High School and coached their softball and tennis teams. In 1988, he began teaching at Port Chester High School in Port Chester, NY where he remained until his retirement on July 1, 2015. At Port Chester, he was the Department Chairman of Social Studies from 1996-2015 and a Peer Leadership Advisor from 1989-1996. He was a member of the Union Negotiating Team attending the annual New York State Union of Teachers Conferences. A believer in life-long learning, Edward spent many of his summer vacations continuing his education for his own enrichment as well as for the benefit of his students. In 1992, he was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study at the University of Amsterdam in The Netherlands. He studied Economics at Georgetown University in 2003. In 2008, he studied the Civil Rights Movement at Cambridge University in England. He further studied Economics in 2010 at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He completed an Advanced Certificate of Study for Educational Leadership at the College of St. Rose in Albany, NY in 2011. The Westchester NY Holocaust Center awarded him a trip to Germany and Poland in July 2012 to study the Holocaust and attend several conferences sponsored by various Human Rights Organizations. Edward believed that travelling to different places and meeting new people provided the greatest of educations. He traveled to 4 continents, 40 countries and 43 out of the 50 states. He especially loved to visit the homes and libraries of our former Presidents. After retiring from teaching, Edward went on to work part-time at the Hildene Estate in Manchester, VT, former home to President Abraham Lincoln’s son, Robert Todd Lincoln. Edward was an avid gardener and collector of art and antiques. The love of his family far exceeded his love of education. Long considered the Patriarch of the Family, he provided and cared for his mother until her death in 2014. Especially strong was his love for his nieces and nephews: Ericka Waite, Allyson Waite, Michael J. Waite, Kayla Waite, Joshua Waite, Amber French, Scott Hosley, Jack Hosley, Misty Blake and 9 great-nieces and great-nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his nieces and nephews as well as by his siblings: Ginny Hosley and her husband Randy of Minnetonka, MN; Debra Waite of Bennington, VT; John Waite and his wife Melissa of North Walpole, NH; Michael K. Waite of Meriden, CT and Donald J. Waite and his wife Kimberly of Benton, ME. He is also survived by his beloved West Highland Terrier, Chelsea, and so many close friends from all over the United States. FUNERAL NOTICE: Funeral services for Edward will be held at Hanson Walbridge & Shea Funeral Home, 4596 VT-7A, Arlington, VT 05250, Saturday, December 28, 2019 at 10:00AM. Interment will follow at St. Columban’s Cemetery in Arlington. A reception will follow the burial for family and friends to share their personal history and stories of Edward at the Arlington American Legion Post 69, 54 Legion Rd, Arlington, VT 05250. Visiting hours at the funeral home will be held Friday evening, December 27, 2019 from 6 to 8pm when the family will be in attendance. If friends desire, memorial gifts in Edward’s memory may be made to The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, c/o Hanson Walbridge & Shea P.O. Box 528 Arlington, VT 05250