Edward James "Ned" Taaffe

Edward James ''Ned'' Taaffe, age 70, Tuesday in Columbus, Ohio. After receiveing a BS in Journalism and in Meteorology and serving as a 1st Lieutenant in the USAAF in Western Europe, Ned married Marialyce Dunne in 1948. They began their family and professional life in Chicago, where he received a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1952. Ned taught at Loyola and Northwestern. In 1963, he moved to Ohio and became Chairman of the Geography Department at the Ohio State University. Ned was elected President of the American Association of Geographers (AAG). He received many professional honors, and wrote numerous articles and books, always working with Marialyce on his projects. Ned ''retired'' from the Geography Department at The Ohio State University in 1992. In 1999 he was honored by the establishment of the Edward J. Taaffe Colloquium Series at The Ohio State University. He is preceded in death by his parents, Edward James and Julia Loretta Taaffe and his brother Robert; he is survived by Marialyce, his wife of 52 years; daughters, Maura Taaffe, Julianne Taafe (Michael Boyd), Susan Taaffe and Karen Taaffe, sons, Ned (Ellen), Michael (Laurel), Brian (Gabrielle) and David; grandson, Ian, granddaughters, Maura, Maggie and Natalie Taaffe; brother, Gerald (Ruth) of Ottawa, Canada; sister-in-law Mahout Taaffe of Bloomington, IN; many nieces, nephews and friends. Ned's deep attachement to his wife, his family and his friends, his sense of humor, his enthusiasm for learning and good conversation, integrity and kindness are invaluable gifts he had left all of us. Arrangements by the Novak Funeral Home, 4476 N. High St., Columbus, Ohio, 43214. 614-268-8811.