LEWES - Edward F. Marecki, of Lewes, was a beloved husband, father and friend. He passed away at the Delaware Hospice Center in Milford on Thursday, August 26, 2010 with his wife and son by his side. Ed was born on October 4, 1930 in Conshohocken, Pa. He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Hedwig; and his brother, Thomas. Ed attended grade school in Bayonne, New Jersey and at St. Peters Prep in Jersey City, New Jersey. He was a 1952 graduate of Villanova University, and became a Naval Aviator and received his wings in 1954. On April 23, 1955 he married Mary Louise Ariano, and they were together for 55 years. During the early part of his career, Ed worked as a Marketing Director. He went back to school and completed his MBA from Drexel University. His marketing career eventually led the Marecki family to Dover, Delaware where he worked at ILC Dover. In 1974, he changed careers and became a member of the faculty at Delaware Technical and Community College's Kent Campus which later became the Terry Campus. During his career at Del Tech, he rose from Chair of the Business Department to the Instructional Director of Business Technologies. He developed and implemented the concept of the business open lab, the Annual Business Awards Banquet to recognize student achievements, and the Business Advisory Board which helped forge a relationship between business faculty and the business community. Under his guidance and through the work of that Advisory Board, Data Processing became a program and later developed into the Data Processing Department that is today known as the CIS. During his time at Del Tech, Ed promoted the idea of a 3-tiered approach to learning that promoted the idea of seamless educational opportunity with his idea of a #1 a certificate that would lead to a #2 a diploma that would lead to the #3 an associate degree for the non-traditional community college student trying to juggle college with many other responsibilities. Ed retired in 1996 from Del Tech, but continued to teach as a member of the adjunct faculty at Wilmington University for several years. Ed is survived by his wife of 55 years, Louise of Lewes, his son Edward and daughter-in-law Pam. He is also survived by his beautiful granddaughter, Laura of Dover who followed in her grandfather's steps to become an educator. Ed is also survived by his very dear friends Drs. Sam and Nancy Magrone of Dover; sisters-in-law. Phyllis Bocco and Catherine Ariano; nieces and nephews, Joseph Bocco, James Bocco, Judy Lukcszewick, Peggy Maxted, Thomas Marecki, Cathy Ariano, Michael Ariano and Joseph Ariano. A Celebration of Life Mass will be held 11 a.m., Tuesday, August 31st, 2010 at St Jude the Apostle Church, 152 Tulip Drive, Lewes, DE. Friends may call from 10 a.m. until service time. Interment will be private. Donations may be made in his memory to the Tunnel Cancer Center, 18947 John J Williams Hwy Unit 21, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 or Delaware Hospice Center, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE, 19963. Arrangements by Torbert Funeral Chapels, Dover