Edward F. Bader

Edward F. Bader Jr. passed away peacefully on June 29, 2024 at South County Hospital in Wakefield, Rhode Island after a short illness, having been diagnosed with cancer only the week before. He resided for the past year with his wife, Nancy in what had been their second home for 30 years in Charlestown, Rhode Island. Formerly, he was a resident of Colchester, Marlborough, and Newington, Connecticut. He was born August 18th, 1941 in Hartford, Connecticut to Edward F. Bader, Sr. and Irene Popielarczyk. He is survived by his wife, Nancy Bader; his children, Suzanne Salemi (Colchester), Christine Peach and husband Collin Peach (Marlborough), and son Kevin Bader (Mystic); his grandsons, Sam and Ben Salemi, and Nico and Finn Peach; his two sisters, Gina Curtis and husband Jeffery Curtis (St Augustine, FL), and Patricia Weich (Plainville); and his nieces and nephews. Ed was predeceased by his son, Gregory Bader in 2019, his brother Michael Gerard Bader, and a sister Barbara Jean Bader.

Ed was a 1959 graduate of Newington High School and a 1963 graduate of Fairfield University majoring in Economics. He spent time in the Connecticut Army National Guard with the Signal Corps. After active duty, he re-enlisted in the National Guard, completed officer training, and rejoined his unit as a company commander of a medical unit within the 118th Medical Battalion in New Haven while simultaneously expanding his financial career. Ed's professional career with Arthur Andersen LLC spanned from 1964 to 2001, where he rose to the level of Senior Partner and spent ten years as the world-wide partner responsible for the Firm's comprehensive insurance industry practice in audit,tax, and information systems. Lauded for his extensive list of proficiencies, including a broad range of expertise in accounting and life, health, and property-casualty insurance matters, Ed often served an 'expert witness' in litigation affairs, an arbiter, and was a diplomat of the American Board of Forensic Accounting. He was very dedicated to this work and spent much of his time traveling for business throughout America and around the world.

In 1996, Ed realized his dream of owning a "gentleman's farm," which he named Echowoods Farm. He, Nancy, and their family so happily resided there in Marlborough, Connecticut until 2015. Nancy and Ed then moved one town over into Colchester, living in the North Woods 55+ Community until 2023.

Ed lived his life as one tirelessly devoted to serving others through his leadership positions on numerous professional / business boards and in a wide variety of community organizations. He served on the boards of several international reinsurance companies, as well as for local governments, and community agencies in Hartford, Marlborough, Lake Hayward, and Colchester, CT. Committed to so many organizations up until the time of his death, the list of Ed's contributions and stewardship remains extensive. His most notable community service was his involvement with the Greater Hartford YMCA, where he became a member in 1968 and served on the Board of Trustees for 22 years, and continued serving on committees until his passing. In 2022, after serving at the Great Hartford YMCA for 54 years, the YMCA honored Ed as the recipient of the Robert C. Knox, Jr. Distinguished Leadership Award.

Over the years, Ed had many hobbies and interests from golf and racquetball to sailing and traveling world wide as part of his career. His passions were his "projects" on his farm in Marlborough, his properties at Lake Hayward and Lake Williams Campground, and his home in Rhode Island. In essence, Ed loved to work. There was one exception: He was an avid Yankees fan and watched every game on TV while sharing this experience on the phone with his dearest and closest friend since high school, John Marino of Wethersfield, Connecticut.

But what was most important to him was his role as an advisor, mentor and father figure to youth, colleagues and friends. With his wife Nancy he raised four wonderful children, including two adopted from Lithuania, each at the age of three, in 1997 and 1998. He was a grandfather to four grandsons who have been his pride and joy for 18 years. For Ed, life was full, and while there were many ups and downs, he was forever grateful, expressing it by living his Roman Catholic faith and through his many accomplishments in life. Truly the most significant measure of a very fulfilling life for Ed was making the difference in the lives of others, especially with young people. Donations in his name may be made to AHM Youth & Family Services - Andover, Hebron, Marlborough Youth Services, where he primarily raised his family during the past 30 years, or to the YMCA of Greater Hartford. A Celebration of Life will be held at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 30 Church Street, Hebron, Connecticut on Saturday, August 10th at 11 am.