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November 24, 1941 – March 2, 2020
With sad hearts we announce the passing of Edward Thomas Roman. Peacefully, surrounded lovingly by his family, at the O’Neil Centre, Toronto.
Loving life-partner of Judith Eleanor Crossland; gentle, patient father of the daughters, Aidan Mae (Jeremy Coghill) and Robin Jean (Brent Stamplicoski); proud, doting Pappa of five beautiful grandchildren: Ella, Roman, Grace, Olivia and Emma.
Predeceased by his father, Edward, mother, Lorraine, brother, Johnny and sister, Linda.
Not one to seek fame, Ed was nevertheless fondly known as “The Grandfather of Canadian Glassblowers,” and his award winning art glass is collected worldwide. At the tender age of seven, Ed learned the skill of torch work from his father, a neon glass tube worker and financed his university studies through sales of glass figurines. As a University of Toronto graduate, Ed taught secondary school history for three years before returning to school at Sheridan College school of Craft and Design. There, he studied the fine craft of hot-glass furnace blowing and met Jude.
Initially, Jude and Ed worked from their Bardsville Studios outside of Bracebridge. In 1979, seeking a ‘quieter’ lifestyle, they moved to a small homestead outside of Brudenell and established Windy Ridge Studios.
Ed spend many happy years following his dream of blowing glass and painting before developing two terminal conditions, at which time the couple sold Windy Ridge and moved into Killaloe.
Although Ed thoroughly enjoyed his 40 years of country life in the Valley and the friendship of many, he was a ‘city boy’ at heart and his wish was to spend his last days in Toronto, the city of his childhood.
Ed left this life, content, having fulfilled all his wishes: making a living as an artist, raising a family, returning to the city, living and loving fully. He will be sadly missed by all those whose lives he touched with his fine art and his quiet, friendly, generous nature.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, May 17 from 2-5 p.m. at the Lions’ Hall in Killaloe.
In memory of Ed, donations to the Killaloe and District Public Library are gratefully accepted.