Edward Joseph Boitano

Obituary Edward (Ed) Joseph Boitano died peacefully, surrounded by family on October 4, 2016 from complications of a sudden stroke. He goes humbly to heaven, which he hopes looks a lot like Northern Italy but has as much salmon as the Puyallup and Columbia Rivers. Ed lived a full life. He took each day as a gift. He was born October 18, 1947 in Tacoma, WA to an Italian-American farming family. Ed spent much of his youth working on the family farm, fishing and hunting. He graduated from Lincoln High School in Tacoma, Washington in 1966 and enrolled in college. As was the case with many in his day, Ed's university was interrupted when he was drafted into the United States Army in 1969. He did not question and served in the 518th Platoon as a Master Sergeant. In December 1970, Ed was honorably discharged and finished his education at St. Martin's College in 1973. Following the military, Ed worked for Colonial Fruit and Produce in Tacoma, WA for 30 years. During these years, Ed made countless life-long friends and colleagues throughout the agricultural community and beyond. Not only did Ed sell produce, he grew his own on the acreage he lived on in the Puyallup Valley. Ed took pride in the families who came to pick out their favorite pumpkins every year and sent families home with self-grown corn, potatoes, zucchini, tomatoes and squash. Ed was a husband to one: Ed began dating his wife, Julie in early 1970. They married on May 15, 1971 and were happily married for 45 years in a loving, unconditional marriage. They made their home in the Puyallup River Valley where they resided for 43 years. Ed was a teacher to all: after retiring from Colonial Fruit and Produce, he began his life-long passion of educating the children of Tacoma and Pierce County. He was especially focused on educating at-risk and challenged youth. He spent 15 years in the Tacoma School District as a Behavioral Specialist, a role which allowed him to bring his courage, reason, and passion to the classroom daily. Ed was a coach to many: In addition to being a farmer and educator, Ed was a cross country and track coach. He began coaching when his children were in Elementary School at All Saints School in Puyallup, WA. Ed coached basketball and track and field for five (5) years at All Saints. He spent the majority of his coaching career at Bellarmine Preparatory School and the University of Puget Sound for 21 years at each institution. Ed was a father to three: Andrea Donovan (married to Thomas Donovan), Tony Boitano (married to Megan Boitano), and Chris Boitano. He was a grandfather to four: Dillon, Easton, Addison, and Thomas, all of whom remember a playful strong grandfather living on a large farm with pumpkins in the fall, figs and berries in the spring, and tomatoes in the summer. Ed was a brother to two: he is survived by his older brothers; Louis Boitano (married to Marie Boitano) and Fred Boitano (married to Sharon Boitano) as well as numerous nieces and nephews whom he taught how to fish and love the Pacific Northwest outdoors. As a track coach, Ed thought daily about time. A time measured in laps of a track or ticks of a stopwatch. The time at which it took to jump, start, run and finish a race. His race with us was cut short, but not without leaving us with a multitude of memories for those of us who were lucky enough to have met him. The brief time he spent with us was focused on family, friends, fishing and farming. All of which he embraced with passion, humor, and an uncanny intelligence forged from a lifetime in the Puyallup Valley. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Ed's name to the Bellarmine Preparatory and/or University of Puget Sound Cross Country and Track programs. A celebration of life will be held in St. Martin of Tours Church in Fife, WA on Tuesday, October 11, 2016 at 11:00 AM, with a Rosary beforehand at 10:30 AM.