Ed Wolin

Ed Wolin

Phoenix - Ed Wolin, Arizona Tennis Pro, Succumbs to ALS

Edward G. Wolin, 64, passed away peacefully on June 15th with his family by his side following a five-month battle with ALS, a disease which also claimed the life of his father.

A resident of Phoenix, Arizona, Ed was born in Columbus, Ohio, and had a happy childhood filled with lifelong friends with whom he remained close until his passing. A lover of golf, tennis, and football, Ed was a first-string running back at Eastmoor High School, where he graduated in 1975, setting records for speed. He later graduated from The Ohio State University with a degree in business.

After college, he moved to California where he was briefly involved with commercial real estate before becoming a teaching tennis pro. In Los Angeles, he met and married Stephanie Burchfield. The couple relocated to Phoenix in 1995 after the birth of their second daughter. A resident of the Ahwatukee suburb in Phoenix, Ed taught and coached tennis to hundreds of students and families for the past 25 years at Desert Vista High School, the Ahwatukee YMCA, and the Chandler Tennis Center. He ended his 40-year career two days prior to receiving his ALS diagnosis.

Throughout the duration of his illness, Ed was visited by friends and family from around the country who reminisced, paid respects, and shared stories and memories of Ed, frequently alluding to his best attributes -- his athletic talent, passion for teaching, joy in being a husband and father of two athletic daughters, bone-dry wit, and unfailing ability to deliver a humorous line with that signature megawatt smile.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Betty and Jack Wolin of Columbus, Ohio. He is survived by wife Stephanie, daughters Avery (Christopher) and Alison, sister Vicki Kemmerling, brother Roger (Marianne), nephews John, Michael, Corey, niece Anne, great-niece, Reina, and great-nephew, Corey.

The family wishes to express its gratitude to the ALS Association Arizona Chapter for their guidance, generosity, and advocacy to those families and individuals who are devastated by this terrible disease. In lieu of flowers, donations to the ALS Association Arizona Chapter http://donate.az.als.org, would be very much appreciated.

Ed will be laid to rest in Scottsdale, AZ. A Celebration of Life Ceremony for family and friends is being planned in his honor.