Edmund A Conti, accomplished poet and Brooksby Village resident, died peacefully on November 12th with family by his side. He was 96.
Edmund was born on Jan. 13, 1929, in Providence, Rhode Island to Antonio and Giuseppina (Riveglia) Conti. He was the sixth of seven children in a large Italian family. Edmund attended Mt. Pleasant High School in Providence (class of 1947) and went on to graduate from Brown University with a B.A. in Economics in 1953. He served for 3 years in the US Army, stationed in Japan. Upon returning home, he drove across the country to Santa Barbara, California to complete training in Assembly Language. He was a pioneer in early computer programming, and a long and varied career followed.
Edmund met Marilyn, his muse and partner for life, while sitting at adjacent desks at the Prudential Insurance Company in Newark New Jersey. He married Marilyn Wagner of Newark on June 23, 1963. The couple lived briefly in San Diego before returning to the East Coast to be closer to family. Eventually they settled in Summit, New Jersey, where they resided at 79 Tulip Street for the next 35 years, raising their two sons Matthew and David and sending them off to college.
In retirement, Edmund and Marilyn enjoyed frequently traveling around the country to actively participate in Elderhostel programs. Edmund spent many mornings volunteering in the computer lab at the Summit Middle School and began a geography club with his 6th graders. Summit and its residents were frequent topics of Conti's Comments, an occasional column he wrote for the Summit Independent and the Summit Herald. The front yard at 79 Tulip Street was a showcase for his seasonal one-word signs (boo, gobble, ho), greeting neighbors with a touch of humor.
Edmund's lifelong passion was word play and light verse. As prolific as he was clever, he published more than 500 of his poems. He won the Willard R. Espy Literary Award for 2002 and has been the featured poet in Light poetry magazine. He was a frequent contributor to the weekly New York Magazine Competition where his weekly entries won numerous 1st place prize magazine subscriptions for his sisters, nieces, and friends, and other pseudonyms. He was a regular member of the Bards Buffet in NYC. Edmund auditioned for the "Jeopardy!" game show, created many of his own word games, and always completed the New York Times Sunday Crossword in pen. Later in retirement, he regularly "got ink" in the Washington Post Style Invitational humor contest. He is the author of several chapbooks including Quiblets, The Ed C Scrolls, Eddies, Hic Haiku Hac, and has authored 2 books of his poetry Just So You Know and That Shakespeherean Rag.
Edmund was a gentle, calm, witty and amiable soul who only raised his voice for a poetry recital. He always had a twinkle in his eye. He was a devoted husband, wonderful father, a beloved grandfather and favorite uncle.
Edmund is survived by his two sons, Matthew Conti (Karen Lindem) of Arlington, MA and David Conti (Lorraine Conti) of Ashburn, VA and five grandchildren, Carl, Joel, Reina, Sophie, and Norah, as well as his favorite nieces and nephews and their children. Edmund was predeceased by his wife Marilyn (2016), his sisters Lecia Dellamano, Lelia Vincent, Anna Brennan and Maria Conti, and his brothers Ralph Conti and Fred Conti.
Edmund's family invites all friends and loved ones to a memorial celebration to be held on Monday December 8th, 2025 at 10am in the McIntosh Clubhouse at Brooksby Village in Peabody, MA.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that you consider a donation to Light Magazine in honor of Ed's many contributions to light verse (www.Lightpoetrymagazine.com). The family also notes Edmund died of complications from pneumonia on Nov 12th recognized as World Pneumonia Awareness Day; donations can be made to the American Lung Association (www.lung.org).
Edmund was born on Jan. 13, 1929, in Providence, Rhode Island to Antonio and Giuseppina (Riveglia) Conti. He was the sixth of seven children in a large Italian family. Edmund attended Mt. Pleasant High School in Providence (class of 1947) and went on to graduate from Brown University with a B.A. in Economics in 1953. He served for 3 years in the US Army, stationed in Japan. Upon returning home, he drove across the country to Santa Barbara, California to complete training in Assembly Language. He was a pioneer in early computer programming, and a long and varied career followed.
Edmund met Marilyn, his muse and partner for life, while sitting at adjacent desks at the Prudential Insurance Company in Newark New Jersey. He married Marilyn Wagner of Newark on June 23, 1963. The couple lived briefly in San Diego before returning to the East Coast to be closer to family. Eventually they settled in Summit, New Jersey, where they resided at 79 Tulip Street for the next 35 years, raising their two sons Matthew and David and sending them off to college.
In retirement, Edmund and Marilyn enjoyed frequently traveling around the country to actively participate in Elderhostel programs. Edmund spent many mornings volunteering in the computer lab at the Summit Middle School and began a geography club with his 6th graders. Summit and its residents were frequent topics of Conti's Comments, an occasional column he wrote for the Summit Independent and the Summit Herald. The front yard at 79 Tulip Street was a showcase for his seasonal one-word signs (boo, gobble, ho), greeting neighbors with a touch of humor.
Edmund's lifelong passion was word play and light verse. As prolific as he was clever, he published more than 500 of his poems. He won the Willard R. Espy Literary Award for 2002 and has been the featured poet in Light poetry magazine. He was a frequent contributor to the weekly New York Magazine Competition where his weekly entries won numerous 1st place prize magazine subscriptions for his sisters, nieces, and friends, and other pseudonyms. He was a regular member of the Bards Buffet in NYC. Edmund auditioned for the "Jeopardy!" game show, created many of his own word games, and always completed the New York Times Sunday Crossword in pen. Later in retirement, he regularly "got ink" in the Washington Post Style Invitational humor contest. He is the author of several chapbooks including Quiblets, The Ed C Scrolls, Eddies, Hic Haiku Hac, and has authored 2 books of his poetry Just So You Know and That Shakespeherean Rag.
Edmund was a gentle, calm, witty and amiable soul who only raised his voice for a poetry recital. He always had a twinkle in his eye. He was a devoted husband, wonderful father, a beloved grandfather and favorite uncle.
Edmund is survived by his two sons, Matthew Conti (Karen Lindem) of Arlington, MA and David Conti (Lorraine Conti) of Ashburn, VA and five grandchildren, Carl, Joel, Reina, Sophie, and Norah, as well as his favorite nieces and nephews and their children. Edmund was predeceased by his wife Marilyn (2016), his sisters Lecia Dellamano, Lelia Vincent, Anna Brennan and Maria Conti, and his brothers Ralph Conti and Fred Conti.
Edmund's family invites all friends and loved ones to a memorial celebration to be held on Monday December 8th, 2025 at 10am in the McIntosh Clubhouse at Brooksby Village in Peabody, MA.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that you consider a donation to Light Magazine in honor of Ed's many contributions to light verse (www.Lightpoetrymagazine.com). The family also notes Edmund died of complications from pneumonia on Nov 12th recognized as World Pneumonia Awareness Day; donations can be made to the American Lung Association (www.lung.org).
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