Edward Gazze
Edward Gazze died on March 15th, 2024, shortly before his 80th birthday, following a two-year battle with cancer. He was surrounded during his final days and moments by loving family and sustained by the prayers of countless friends whose lives he had touched.
Born in 1944 to Tony and Mary Gazze of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, Ed was the oldest of six children. He married his high school sweetheart, Kathryn, in 1966, graduated in Industrial Engineering from Penn State in 1967, and later completed an MBA from George Washington University. Over the next 57 years, Ed and Kathy built a life together, enriching the community of Dover, Delaware and, more recently, Bonita Springs, Florida.
If there were themes to Ed's life, they were faithfulness and service to others. He loved Kathy faithfully throughout their 58-year marriage, and their service to Presbyterian Marriage Encounter in the 1970s and 1980s undoubtedly enriched the marriages of many other couples. As the eldest sibling, Ed was a patriarch to the Gazze family and a role model for his brothers and sister. He was a patient, caring, and devoted father to his three children and was beloved by his five grandchildren, for whom he always had a seemingly unlimited supply of energy and time. When daughter Kimberly was born with Downs Syndrome, he faithfully carried the banner for special needs children for decades, serving for a time as President of Delaware Special Olympics, encouraging Kim to participate and ultimately reach the International Special Olympics Games in 1983, and later providing steadfast leadership to the Delaware Division of Developmental Disabilities Services for many years.
His career with Kraft General Foods spanned more than 40 years as an employee and consultant. He worked hard and was loyal to a fault. Ed was a faithful leader in his church, serving as an Elder, leading a capital campaign, and in later years manning a homeless shelter operated out of the church basement. He was active in his local community, serving on the Kent General Hospital Board and Delaware Humanities Council for many years. Even during his last years of life, Ed gave generously of his time to serve his neighbors by leading his condo association in Bonita Springs, Florida.
Ed loved to ski, play golf, and travel. He was fortunate during his lifetime to visit most of the US, a few countries in Asia, and many parts of Europe. Favorite places included annual ski trips to Park City, football games in State College, winters in Florida, time at Delaware beaches with grandchildren, and family trips to Austria and Italy. Along the way he made countless friendships.
Finally-as his family and friends would testify-Ed was always loyal and faithful to his alma mater, Penn State (though he would often express his passionate disapproval of certain decisions, to the TV, on Saturday afternoons each fall!).
He is survived by his wife, Kathryn; his three children: Christopher (Sasa), Kimberly, and Rebecca (Clifford); five grandchildren: Jakob, Benjamin, Avery, Nathan, and Emma; three brothers: David, Ronald, and Mark; his sister, Cynthia; and a wealth of nieces and nephews.
Services are planned for 1 pm on Saturday, March 23rd at The Presbyterian Church of Dover, with a viewing starting at 11 am.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the ARC of Delaware and/or The Presbyterian Church of Dover.
Letters of condolence may be sent, and guestbook signed at http://www.torbertfuneral.com