Harold "Ed" Woodsum Jr.

Many members of Coach George Martin(me as well) will meet up again! ( CLASS 1949-52)

I had the distinct pleasure to guide Ed for striped bass for many years on the Kennebec River and Casco Bay. Ed and his partner in crime Fred Pape were inveterate joke tellers and kept things loose during the inevitable slow periods while spending a day on the water. Things I will remember the most about Ed: His absolute joy while on the water despite sideways rain, cold fog, and hellacious salt water mosquitoes. His uncanny ability to destroy fishing equipment (usually mine), including...

Ed was an unfailingly supportive friend to me and to the University of New England. A gentleman of the old school, he hand wrote me a letter of encouragement every year until I retired from UNE. He was particularly happy we were starting football. Ed leaves us all better for the example of his life of service to his family, higher education and his community. I just loved him.

The accolades will pour in for Ed, reflecting the breadth and diversity of his life. I'll just add one more voice to that chorus. I am a lawyer in Ed's firm, and was mentored by him. If you read his wonderful obituary, you'll have a sense of the intimidation new associates would feel to be called to work with him. In person, he did everything he could to play down his resume to focus on you as an individual and guide you along. His lifetime achievements are legendary for those of us from...