NO. 17469 • 17 May 1928 – 1 May 2016
Died in Aurora, CO
Interred at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA
Edward Martin Pierce was born in Indiana, PA in 1928. He was the middle son of Attorney William Elliott Pierce and Edna Todd Bell. In his high school, he was active in sports and music. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing.
Ed graduated from Indiana High School in 1946 and went straight to West Point. While at West Point, he participated in sports (Lacrosse, Swimming) and he played the trombone in the band (he described himself as the “slush pumper extraordinaire”). During his 26 years in the Army, he served in both Korea and Vietnam. He was awarded the Silver and Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart. He also served as an Attaché to the former country of Yugoslavia in the 1960’s. Ed was in the Infantry. He was also a Ranger and a paratrooper. He was assigned to the Office of Management and Budgeting at the Pentagon in 1968. He was still serving in that position when he retired as a Colonel in 1976.
Ed and his wife Lee moved 20 times during their 61 year marriage. 17 of those moves were while they were in the military. Amazingly, all four of their children went to the same high school in Northern Virginia, even while Ed was still on active duty. That must be a record for four Army brats!
While in the Army, he completed a doctoral program in Business Administration. After his retirement from the Army, Ed became a college professor of Finance and Economics. Ed taught at American University, George Mason and eventually Nova Southeastern University in Southern Florida. The teaching position with Nova took Ed and Lee to Davie, Florida where they lived for 25 years. He retired from teaching in 2000. Ed and Lee enjoyed their beautiful home in Florida for many years. Ed enjoyed golf, skiing, and gardening. He taught himself how to windsurf at the age of 60. His motto was, “anything my kids can do, I can do”. He was known for his sense of humor and his winning smile. In August 2015, Ed and Lee moved to Aurora, Colorado to be closer to family.
Ed was a 23-year colon cancer survivor and a 15-year prostate cancer survivor. The complications from the prostate cancer eventually caused his health to decline and led to his death. Since the start of his decline in 2012, he faced every surgery and every medical obstacle with grace, humor, and determination. He died at age 87 in his home in Aurora, CO, surrounded by his family.
Lee is currently in Aurora, Colorado and enjoys the social life at the assisted living facility where she lives. She also enjoys seeing her four children and nine grandchildren, as they often pass through Aurora on the way to the family vacation home in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. She rides her tricycle on a regular basis.
Ed is also survived by his children, Lynn Whitlock (an attorney in California), Nancy Reid (a CPA in Colorado), Ed Pierce Jr (a project manager in Leesburg, VA) and Kathy Schlimm (USMA class of 1987, currently residing in Missouri). He is also survived by nine grandchildren and one brother, Robert Pierce of Oberlin, OH.
There is an online obituary for Ed at newcomerdenver.com. Condolences can be written at the online site or sent to Lee Pierce at 2670 S Abilene St, Apt. 123, Aurora, CO 80014.
— Respectfully submitted by his wife, Lee and his children