Edward E. Pilat

Edward Ernest Pilat, 88, of Wellesley, passed away peacefully on July 16, 2025.
Edward was the beloved husband of Maryann, nee Grieci; the loving father of Marybeth Pilat and her husband Edward Holley, and David Pilat; devoted son of the late Frances Pilat and late Harry Pilat; dear brother of the late Barbara Abad; and proud grandfather of Sofia Pilat and the late Eli Pilat.
Edward grew up in Flushing, New York and attended P.S.22 and Flushing High School, where he graduated as valedictorian. He attended Cornell University as an undergraduate and received a B.S. in Engineering Physics. He also attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology and received his doctorate in Nuclear Engineering.
It was in Boston that he met his beloved Maryann, whom he married in August 1966. Edward and Maryann spent the next six years between Boston and Maryland, establishing life-long friendships in Maryland but finally settling in Wellesley, M.A. in 1972.
Edward loved to explore new cultures and he and Maryann had the opportunity to travel broadly, but his favorite get-away was spending time with extended family in Popponesset each summer. He would oblige an hour at the beach with everyone, but much preferred a walk in the shade and a chat with those he would meet along the way.
Edward was also an avid reader of pretty much any topic, including history, current events, poetry or even a good mystery. He was a math enthusiast and could fill pages of notebooks with complicated formulas. He wanted to understand how things worked and enjoyed teaching others the same. Edward patiently took the time to explain, or at least try to explain, math homework to his kids as they were growing up- even if it ended in frustration (on the kid's part!). For several years, he co-taught a course at MIT in the physics program, and he also advised several post-doctoral students on their thesis.
Edward spent the first years of his retirement taking care of his first- born grandchild Eli and then later his granddaughter Sofia. He was so proud to be a papa and cherished that time.
Edward was inherently cheerful, always with a gentle manner and warm smile. He will be incredibly missed by his friends and family.
A memorial service will be held at 10 am Sunday, July 20, 2025, at Temple Beth Shalom, 670 Highland Ave., Needham, MA.