Published in the October 2, 2015 edition
MELROSE — Edward F. Cassidy, 72, a longtime resident of Melrose, passed away suddenly at home on Wednesday, Sept. 23.
Ed was born in Medford on Sept. 11, 1943, son of the late Ann (Handley) Cassidy and Edward F. Cassidy. Raised in Wakefield, he spent his senior year of high school in Kingston, Jamaica where his father was transferred for work.
At age 8, he knew he wanted to be an architect and would devote his career to the profession. As a young man, he loved swimming, learned to sail and became a lifeguard.
Ed graduated from Syracuse University where he received his B.A. in Architecture in 1966. He met Joan Hum from Lockport, N.Y. at a party and it was love at first sight. They married in 1965 and upon graduation moved to Arlington, later settling in Melrose in 1971 to raise two daughters.
Ed began his long and fulfilling career as an architect in the offices of Hugh Stubbins Associates in Cambridge. At Stubbins, he was highly involved in the design of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. During the course of Ed’s career, he designed, among other things, athletic facilities on many college campuses, including Georgetown University, Middlebury College, Brown University and Villanova University. Ed was an emeritus member of the American Institute of Architects.
In the early 1990s, Ed transitioned into the real estate investment industry. He was hired by AEW Capital Management which provides global real estate investment services to investors worldwide, where he happily continued to work until this past week.
In his role as a director at AEW, Ed led a multidisciplinary team of professionals who evaluated the buildings in which the firm invested. Ed took his stewardship role seriously, both creating value for investors and improving the built environment for us all. One of his major projects was directing the renovation of the public common areas of the Sears Tower in Chicago. His work gave him the opportunity to travel the world, including Singapore, Beijing and Paris.
In Melrose, Ed was an active, dedicated member of the community. He served on the Melrose Planning Board for over 30 years, where he was past chairman. More recently, he joined the Board of the Melrose Symphony Orchestra.
Quechee Lakes, Vt. held a special place in Ed’s heart. He cherished weekends there with family where he loved to fish, ski, draw and relax. He was a skilled skier and especially enjoyed skiing with his four grandchildren and their families.
Ed’s considerate nature, thoughtful insight and kindness to all will be missed but will carry on through the lives of his children and grandchildren.
Ed was the beloved husband Joan H. Cassidy with whom he shared 50 years of marriage. He was the devoted father of Susan McPhedran and her husband Charles of Philadelphia, Pa. and Sara Smith and her husband Craig of Carlisle. He was the cherished grandfather of Alexander and Sara Jane McPhedran, and Ian and Skylar Smith.
Relatives and friends gathered in honor and remembrance of Ed’s life during visiting hours at the Robinson Funeral Home, 809 Main St., Melrose on Monday, Sept. 28, from 3 to 8 p.m. and at Trinity Church, 131 West Emerson St., Melrose for his funeral service celebrated on Tuesday at 10 a.m.
Gifts in Ed’s memory may be made to the Melrose Symphony Orchestra, P.O. Box 760715, Melrose MA 02176 or to the Esophageal Cancer Awareness Association, PO Box 55071, #15530, Boston MA 02205.
To share a memory, visit RobinsonFuneralHome.com.
