J. Edward "Ed" Sunderland

1932 - 2016

DURHAM, N.C. - J. Edward "Ed" Sunderland, Ph.D, died peacefully in his sleep on the morning of May 24, 2016, at Seasons at Southpoint Assisted Living in Durham, after a long bout with Alzheimer's disease.

He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1932. He was Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He had also taught at North Carolina State University, Georgia Tech, Northwestern and Purdue. Ed loved winter backpacking, being in the outdoors, running and being a professor and researcher.

Ed knew early on that he wanted to be an engineer. He receives his B.S.M.E. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and M.E. and Ph.D. from Purdue University. He specialized in heat transfer. He was a Fellow of ASHRAE, Society of Fire Protection Engineers, and the Institute of Food Technology. He loved his work and his students. Some graduate students have kept in touch with him over the years.

He leaves behind his beloved wife Mary and nine children, Robin Beck, Hannah Rose, Abigail Vanasse, Peter, Matthew, Todd and Phoebe Sunderland, Brendan Coppinger, and Erika Jefferson. He leaves 17 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. The couple enjoyed cruising and traveling cross country by train.

We will share our remembrances of Ed at a memorial celebration Sunday, June 12, from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Amherst Room on the 10th floor of the Murray D. Lincoln Campus Center at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

The family is being assisted by Clements Funeral Service, Inc. in Durham. Online condolences may be made at www.clementsfuneralservice.com.

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