Col. Edward Hart

Col. Edward Hart

Norfolk - Col. Edward P. Hart (U.S. Army, Ret.), 83, husband, father, grandfather, soldier, teacher, Red Sox fan, actor, singer, and Jeopardy whiz-died peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, May 4, 2016, following complications from a stroke. He will be remembered for his integrity, brilliance, great wit, and generous heart.

Ed was born in Holyoke, Massachusetts to Edward and Mildred Hart. He graduated Holyoke High School in 1949, attended the University of Massachusetts for one year, then received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. In June of 1954, he graduated West Point and married the love of his life, Joan Bourbeau.

In his distinguished 30-year Army career, Colonel Hart served as an armored cavalry officer. He advised a Vietnamese armored cavalry squadron near My Tho during the Vietnam War, taught ROTC at Arizona State University, and commanded the 3/35 Armor Battalion in Bamberg, Germany. He served as the Inspector General at the U.S. Military Academy. He finished his career as an instructor and Dean of Professional Development at the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, and retired in 1984. A 2009 cover story in the Daily Break highlighted his service as Elvis Presley's scout platoon leader.

He earned an M.A. in History from Arizona State University and an M.S. in Business Administration from the University of Rochester. He attended the U.S. Army War College, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and the Armor Officer Career Course.

Following retirement, Ed became an active member of the local theater community. He appeared in numerous local productions with the Little Theater of Virginia Beach (LTVB), Little Theater of Portsmouth, Little Theater of Norfolk, Virginia Musical Theater, Theatrix and Encore Players. He served on the Board of LTVB. Ed toured as a supernumerary with the Virginia Opera and appeared in several independent films.

He was also a philanthropist and volunteer. Drawing on his Masters research about the U.S. occupation of Japan, Ed conducted tours of the MacArthur Memorial. He and Joan volunteered for years at Virginia Musical Theater and ushered regularly for several local theaters. He was an active member of Holy Trinity Parish, where he was a member of the church board, participated in a Men's Group, and served as a lector.

Ed is predeceased by his father and mother, as well two sons, Gerald and Dan. Survivors include Joan, his wife of nearly 62 years; his brother Tom Hart; his children Marilyn "Fritzi" Foster (Rick), Edward "Charlie" Hart (Mary), Eileen Lambert (Kevin), Donna Olivero (Jose), Meg Hart (Bob Siegel), Joan Ford (Jeff), and Jennifer Hart-Berndt (Carsten); his grandchildren Andy and Emily Foster, Max and Ryan Hart, Kelsey and Tobin Lambert, Jose Olivero (Yeffeny), Nick and Amy Olivero, Kelsey and Shannon Siegel; and his one great-grandson, Sebastian Olivero.

A Funeral Mass celebrating Ed Hart's life will take place on Wednesday, May 11th, 11:00 A.M. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 154 W Government Ave. in Norfolk. Visitation will begin in the church an hour before the service, and there will be a reception in the church hall. At a later date, he will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery. H.D. Oliver Funeral Apartments, Norfolk Chapel is handling arrangements. Online condolences may be made at www.hdoliver.com .

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in honor of Edward Hart to one of the following:

--Holy Trinity Food Pantry, 154 W Government Ave., Norfolk, VA 23503

--Covenant House, 5 Penn Plaza, New York, NY 10001, Attn: Sandra Latchman; or at https://ny.covenanthouse.org

"There's one more angel in heaven,

There's one more star in the sky,

Father, the things that you stood for,

Like truth and light, never die."

-Andrew Lloyd Webber, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat