Edwin F. Roys

I and my brothers had 5 wonderful summers courtesy of Mr. Roys and his family. He created a great place for boys to be boys

I am eternally grateful to Ed Roys for the incredible, amazing new world of adventure and boundless possibilities, opportunities, and potential that Idlewild exposed me to and opened up for me as a boy.

The quality of the experience at Idlewild, the culture, and especially the caliber of people Ed recruited as counselors, is what made Idlewild special and unique. Ed was at the top of his game and ran the best camp out there. Mr. Roys and his extended Idlewild family of counselors had a profound and lasting impact on me, in shaping my development, with the skills, lessons, and values I learned from them at Idlewild. Ed and his counselors set the bar high in the ideals, values, and character to strive for in life. The Idlewild that Ed and his father LD created was an integral and important part of my education that built a strong, solid foundation for a life of personal growth, learning, and discovery.

It is a great tribute to Ed Roys, and his living legacy that carries on strongly to this day, that even after his passing, he is still continuing to bring together this large, extended Idlewild family, this unique, distinguished group of people, from 40, 50, 60, and 70 years ago.

Thank you, Mr. Roys!

From the first moment I set foot on the Idlewild dock on 1st July 1972 and shook Ed's hand, I came to admire him and everything he stood for. It was my first visit to the US and he always made me feel most welcome.

I remember the times we had during late crew and also early crew during the subsequent years - hard work but lots of laughter!

The death of one's father leaves an emptiness and profound sadness, as I was to learn over 5 years ago with the passing of my own father. However, I'm sure that Ed is up above and at peace, looking down on his lifetime achievements and being certain in the knowledge that he enriched the lives of all the people, who had the privilege of knowing him.

My thoughts are with the Roys family.

Peter Hayes

Counsellor '72, '74 & '75

Currently residing in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.

I cannot count the number of ways my years at Idlewild have touched me, and remain with me to this day. I often can smell the pines, an feel the cool breeze cominf off the lake at ngith, as I fall to sleep. The years of '69 -75 were incrediblt formaitive for me and my brother. Without Idlewild many of my outdoor passions would not have been realized, and passed on to my two boys whom both became campers. My youngest returning to Moosilauke this summer in Orford NH. The entire roys family made the experiences indelible, but I especially have Ed to thank. His living room slide show/1969 in my house hooked me!! His passion lives on in my heart.
My sincere blessings to Ed and the entire Roys family. Ed certainly is pushing the throttle towards Front Dock as we speak...God Bless.
Andy Amill '69 -'75
Alex Amill '70 -'75

Ed Roys was a father figure to so many boys through Camp Idlewild. His legacy lives on exponentially through those of us who spent our summers on Cow Island and on the many excursions which sprung from there. The place and the people were formative in my life and the lessons I learned there affect me to this day. I am grateful to Mr. Roys for making that possible. He did something very powerful, generous and far reaching with his career. My heart goes out to the Roys family. Thank you! (from a camper in the late 60's-early 70's)

We were very saddened to hear of Ed Roys' death, and send our sincere condolences to all of the Roys family. Our family's connection with the Roys family and the summer camps they managed spanned over 50 years beginning in the 1920's when our mother was a camper and counselor at Teelawooket. Three of our uncles had the same experiences at Idlewild into the 1930's. And in the 50's-to-70's, we three brothers were Idlewild campers and counselors under Ed's guidance for over 30 seasons between us. All through our school years, we could barely wait for each year to end so we could get back to camp. The skills that all of us learned, the lifelong friendships we made, and many priceless memories of wonderful times on Lake Winnipesaukee have immeasurably enriched our lives, and continue to do so. Thank you, Ed!

To the Roys Family, Ed was such a special person that touched my life and made me the person that I am. Camp Idlewild was such a great place that I enjoyed going to for seven years. There are so many stories that I can tell but the ones that directly impacted Ed and I was the time myself and Chris Habion was out sailing and the little sail fish off Cow Island when the wind started kicking up and the boat kept capsizing and we could not get it in, both Chris and I were having so much fun while Ed came out to save us. I'll never forget his face thinking that we were in trouble when we were having so much fun and of course we always loved when Ed was driving the riot for aqauplaning just before lunch and dinner, he would go a lot faster and give us the best ride we ever had. Ed I want to thank you and all of your family for giving me seven great summers to meet my friends from all over the world.. God Bless

Steven H Steiner
1969-1975
North Conway, NH

Fred, Tom and family,
so sorry to hear about your loss. Mr Roys was just a positive influence on me talking about life, politics, and the ability to do whatever you made your mind up to do! I will never forget him treatin me like I was an adult when I was a teen..his quick wit, smile and great stories during the trip to Italy will never be forgotten...

I remember Ed’s enthusiasm for camp. He was always so involved with everything going on around camp and he seemed to be everywhere. So sorry to hear of his passing but glad to hear he did not suffer. My blessings and condolences to the family.

Although I was an Idlewilder from 1960 until it's closing in 1975 my favorite recollection of Ed has to be July 4th weekend of 1978... Susan and I had sailed Naiad up from Wolfeboro for a visit with Tom & Karen and Ed & Cal. The day we were to head back home, one of those Northeast winds came down the Broads, however, this one was a record according to the next day's newspaper. Ed, Tom, and I decided that we couldn't let this opportunity go by so we took Naiad out for a sail around Sandy Island. With father figure on the tiller, brother figure on the main sheet, and me on the jib we set out for one of the most figurative/literal white knuckle rides of our lives. The ladies, while monitoring Marine Patrol radio, heard of docks being washed away and boats dragging/breaking their moorings. We got back wet and exhilarated and I remember Ed saying "Now THAT was a nice little blow..."
My life as well as my son's (they never met Ed) lives were enriched just by me knowing this guy...

My heartfelt sympathy to the Roys family. Ed's memory will live on in the minds of the many people whose life he touched. Ed, as well as L.D., was my boss in the office.

My condolences to the entire Roys family. I owe Ed, Cal and the entire family much for making me apart of their summer. Because I never had to want for anything during the summer, it was not until years after being at Idlewild that I realized how much work was involved in making Idlewild the complete experience that it was. Having sent 3 boys off to other camps, I came to realize how well run it was, and by constantly adding new activities like Scuba and Soccer and Gymnastics it was also open to getting better. I still frequently think and have dreams about being there.

Chuck "Charlie" Palmer

ps www.campidlewild.com

Ed, your smile & countless hours of stories will surely be missed. Though never a member of "Camp" I had the privilege, through you of sharing in memories of the "Idlewild Family". I must now admit that though many attest to your great teaching skills, I was your first failure! I never learned to pilot a boat, sail, row a boat or paddle a canoe and I never learned to call a loon! But I will always cherish the hours of lessons and the laughter we shared trying. I will miss sharing the sunset from side by side rockers on the porch and Holidays by the fire. Know that you live on in the memories of your children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and as seen posted here...the memories of everyone you touched by sharing the place you often called "heaven on earth".....Camp Idlewild. Thanks, Gramps

I send my condolences to the Roys family. My two brothers and I spent a collective 25 summers with Mr. Roys at Camp Idlewild. Those were formative years for impressionable boys. I can't begin to tally the lessons learned and important values instilled during those summers of mine. For captaining a great institution that endures in the hearts of many, I can only say in Mr. Roy's own words, "Okay, Thank you!"

Greg Hansel
Cape Elizabeth, Maine
Idlewild camper and CIT, 1967-1976

I am Edwin Royses eldest grandson and want to personally thank all who have posted their heartfelt thoughts. I unfortuneately never had the honor of attending Camp Idlewild as it was closed down in 1975 and I was not born until 1979, however I had the unique experience of having the run of the Island in my childhood and all of it's many wonders. It to this day is a wonderful place and I still enjoy time there every summer with my two children, my wife and my mother and father, Tom and Karen Roys. The family still owns a small corner lot by the front beach, just down the hill from where the dining hall stood. We reside for two straight weeks and various weekends in the Red Fox that has remained almost untouched by time, as it looks now much the same as it always has since the early seventies. I also had the honor of growing up with Ed whom I adoringly called Gramps, a title I'm not sure he enjoyed but excepted with that rye Roys smile which by the way has not managed to skip a generation since his mastery of it. My father and uncle have it, I have it and so does my 6 year old son. I am blessed to be able to see Gramps every time my son smiles at me. Ed will live on in our memories, and I for one will never forget the life lessons he taught me or the profound influence he had on my, and apparently many other peoples lives.

I still have the letter Ed sent to me offering $125 or so to be a first year counselor - making sure I remembered that room and board were included (Now I probably would work for free!) Ed later gave me a recommendation to get in to the University of Vermont. My seven or eight years at Idlewyld shaped a life long love for the mountains and lakes of New England that has surely been passed down to our children.

My best to all the Roys family and thank you for all the years that I loved so much as an Ohio boy coming to New England for the summer.

Last spring I paddled around the island. It is still a touchstone for me - it is where I learned many of the things that continue to create richness in my life. I am very grateful to Ed and the Roys family.

My sympathies to your family on Ed's passing. He was a big man in all the ways that count. You all hold a special place in my heart and memories of Idlewild when my mom and dad (Phyllis and Charlie Butler) worked there and it became part of my life. How fortunate we all were to have known him and spent time with you there.

Our condolences to the whole Roys family. My brothers Peter, Jim and I all have fond memories of ours summers spent with Mr. Roys (we never called him Ed as far as I recall) at Camp Idlewild. Those were truly special times for us and we remember them fondly and they usually come up in conversation whenever we are together.

Ed was a very inspirational leader. When I was earning my MBA at the Harvard Business School in the mid-1980s I had no idea that Ed was an HBS alumnus. However when I read his obituary and saw that he was a member of the class of '48 it all made so much sense.

We are the men we are today due in part to some of the important lessons Ed instilled in us when we were boys at CI -- Thank you Ed.

Condolences to the entire Roys family from all the Haboians in Rochester, NY and Detroit, MI. When I read this, I was sad to hear of his passing, but also reminisced by all the great things this man did, shaping the futures of the little kids he brought to Camp Idlewild. Mr. Roys, along with many great counselors he recruited, turned us from boys to men in the period of just a few weeks.

All us Haboians thoroughly enjoyed our summers at CI, and Mr. Roys changed our lives in such a great way forever. My father worked for him as a waterski instructor, my mom in the office, and brother Chris and I were campers that grew up with his son Fred. My fondest memories of Mr. Roys (and there were many) was when he took time away from his extremely busy schedule to put the kids first.....he drove the Riot for us kids aqua-planing at General Swim when Karl was not available to drive. He was truely a pioneer in shaping our lives and futures and molding us from innocent boys to men.

It is twilight on a warm summer night, and we counselors and boys are all standing at attention, at the giant cracked rock in front of the Mess Hall, listening to Taps being played as the flag is being lowered. Rest in Peace, Mr. Roys......you deserve it.

Ed Roys, and the Roys family's passion for Camp Idlewild, is legendary. Thousands of boys and young men, and through them their families and offspring, have been affected by him in so many profound ways: a love of the outdoors, a love for boats of all kinds, a love for so many diverse sports... and a sense that we all shared something quite unique in that marvelous time capsule on Cow Island. Our collective memory of Ed Roys and that place he loved, is truly a great memorial.

I was a camper at Idlewild from 1959 - 1961 and fondly remember Ed as a wonderful, positive mentor who showed genuine concern for every camper and employee at the camp. He was a giant of a man and had tremendous impact on the lives of thousands of boys. I was saddened by his passing and my deepest sympathy goes out to his family. I will always remember Ed as being a big part of some of the happiest days of my life.

So sorry to hear this news. My condolences to the entire family. Ed was a Father-figure to us campers and led a Summer experience that many of us relate remembrances to this day. I remember how kind he was to my parents and I at the annual Winter Reunion at the Downtown Athletic Club in Manhattan. Many, many great memories...can still see him in his shorts, crew-cut, and glasses with a clipboard in his hand. Will be missed by many, but remembered often.

Phillip R. Crabb
Camp Idlewild '67-'69
Franklin, NJ

My condolences to the Roys family. Ed and I met in 1967 when he hired me as a counselor. I came to know him very well over the years. He showed kindness to me and my family and ran the best camp I ever worked for.

I am deeply saddened by the news of Mr. Roy's passing. I had the distinct pleasure of being a camper and then a counselor at Camp Idlewild from 1955 - 1967. I was deeply influenced by the experience I had at Idlewild and will be eternally grateful to Mr. Roy's and his family for all they did for the many generations of young men who greatly benefited from the time they spent as members of the Idlewild family. He will always be remembered fondly by all of us.