Edward J. Slade Jr.

Edward J Slade Jr., 54, of Fairfield, passed away on July 7, 2011, at home after a brave battle with cancer. Ed was the husband of Sharon Shaw Slade and the father of William Charles Slade and Andrew Edward Slade. Ed and Sharon were married at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church and have lived in Fairfield for more than twenty years. Born June 12, 1957, in Heidelberg, Germany, Ed was the son of Col. Edward J Slade and the late Laura C. Slade. He grew up in Merion, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Pennsylvania State University where he played Division I tennis. Ed was an entrepreneurial executive who successfully built and led several of America's leading brands and organizations. In recent years, he co-founded O Water and, more recently, founded and served as Chief Executive Officer of Twelve Beverages. Prior to O Water, Ed was the President and Chief Operating Officer of FIJI Water, leading its growth from a startup to one of the great successes in the beverage industry. Earlier in his career, he was named one of America's 100 Top Marketing Executives for his work at Group Danone/Evian. Ed was an active member of the Fairfield community and a regular presence at his sons' school activities and sporting events at Fairfield Country Day School. An avid golfer and tennis player, he was a member of the Board of Governors of The Country Club of Fairfield at the time of his death and previously served as a Council Member of The Fairfield Beach Club. Ed's capacity to enjoy life, his good sportsmanship and his dignity and kindness will be profoundly missed by all who knew him. He will be fondly remembered as a true gentleman, a great friend and, most of all, a devoted husband and loving father to his boys. Of all his accomplishments, Ed was most proud of the young men his sons have become. In addition to his wife and sons, Ed is survived by his father Col. Edward J Slade of Gladwyne, Pennsylvania, and his sister Sandra Mossbrook of Riverton, Wyoming, as well as several nieces and nephews. A memorial service to celebrate Ed's life will be held at the Southport Congregational Church in Southport on July 12, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in Ed's memory may be made to the Edward J Slade Fund for Faculty Development at Fairfield Country Day School, 2970 Bronson Road, Fairfield, Connecticut 06824.