Edward Charles Pytlik

Edward Charles Pytlik was born on October 1, 1937 in Hackensack, New Jersey and grew up in nearby Little Ferry. As a young child, he nearly lost his right arm to osteomyelitis but a new drug, penicillin, and numerous surgeries allowed him keep to keep his arm. When he was 12, his father died and for the next fifty years he worked to support his family. Despite these difficulties, he remembered his childhood with fondness, smiling as he talked about playing baseball with his friends, captaining his middle school basketball team, fishing with his dad, blueberry picking in the nearby Meadowlands, and going to New York to watch Yankees games,

After high school,he worked as an auto mechanic for several years before becoming convinced that he wanted something different from life and President Kennedy’s “Ask Not What Your Country Can Do For You” speech inspired him to join the Peace Corps.   He spent two years in Pakistan teaching farmers to drive and maintain tractors. It was a transformative experience which gave him a love of travel and made him curious about the transfer of technology to developing countries. After returning to the United States and working  for Peace Corps Washington, DC for five years, he earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from the University of Maryland and a doctorate from Iowa State University.  While still a graduate student, he co-authored the text book  "Technology, Change, and Society". This was also when he met his wife, Clay, on a trip to Egypt. After finishing his Ph.D. and getting married, they moved to Morgantown, WV where he was a faculty member in the Technology Education Program in West Virginia University’s College of Human Resources and Education.  He retired in 2000.

Their only son, Brock Edward Clement Pytlik, was born in 1980.  Ed was a devoted father who included his family in his lravels and work in other countries. Together they spent over a year in India, giving Brock his first distinctive memories. Ed spent his professional life teaching graduate students and working  to improve the lives of the people living in countries like Peru and India. He also enjoyed playing golf, going to WVU football and basketball games, and just spending time with his family. Ed was able to see his son married this spring to Elizabeth (Lizz) who Ed adored and who could make him smile and laugh when no one else could.

Ed  was preceded in death by his parents Joseph and Mary Budin Pytlik and his only brother, Joseph Pytlik, Jr.  He is loved and remembered by his wife, Clay, their son Brock and his wife Lizz, and their dog Shasta (whose ear licks could make him smile until the very end).

Ed died December 9, 2016  at his home in Morgan Hill, California.  There will be a memorial gathering in Morgantown in the spring. All who loved Ed, who will miss him, or who have fun stories or memories to share  will be welcome.