Edward Patrick Joseph "Ed" Rafter
Edward Patrick Joseph "Ed" Rafter
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Edward Rafter Obituary
Ed was born in Manhattan, New York City to Mary Cox Rafter and Edward Rafter, and lived in Manhattan and Queens until 1995. He was a proud alumnus of Power Memorial Academy. He rode the subway to high school and worked to pay his own tuition.
Ed was a Vietnam era veteran and enlisted in the Air Force October 1st, 1969. After completing his service, he moved to his family's home in Ballina, County Mayo, Ireland. He eventually returned to Manhattan, and married Margaret (Peggy) Villareal in August of 1981. They were married for 33 years until Peggy's death in 2014.
While working in NYC full-time at ASCO Switch Company, then SIAC, Ed earned his electrical engineering degree from Fairley Dickenson University. Upon graduation, and in keeping with his entrepreneurial spirit, he formed Power Engineering (later Tier IV Consulting Group) and moved to Kansas City to work closely with DST systems. He became the unquestioned "subject matter expert" for data center design and certification. His expertise brought him to the SWITCH hyperscale colocation data center in Las Vegas and finally to George Butler Associates to culminate a remarkable professional career. Ed was a lifetime member of the IEEE and helped author stationary battery standards that are still in use today.
In 2015 Ed met and married Jane Collins. They had so much fun together traveling the world and welcoming grandchildren. They had many sleepovers with the grandkids that usually included a trip to Scheels where "Poppy" couldn't resist getting a little something for everyone. As Ed's health declined, he spent many happy hours with the family just watching television or enjoying the peace and solitude of their quaint lake house.
Ed Rafter truly had a deep impact on the lives of those he touched. His legacy is defined by unwavering loyalty and uncompromising integrity. These were ever-present in his personal relationships and all his professional endeavors. His steadfast commitment to these values will forever be an inspiration.
Ed was preceded in death by his parents Mary and Edward Rafter of Ballina, Ireland, his wife Margaret Rafter of Overland Park, and his brothers William Rafter of Brooklyn, NY, and Richard Rafter of Ballina Ireland. Ed is survived by his wife Jane, stepchildren Joseph Collins of Kansas City, Katherine Wiss (Stephen) of Louisburg, KS and grandchildren Oliver, Augustus, Elias and Adelaide (who adored their Poppy), and niece Kyra Green (Pascal) of Montreal, Canada and their son Echo, brother and sister-in-law Wayne and Elizabeth Green of Boynton Beach, Florida.
A funeral mass will be celebrated at Church of the Nativity, 3800 W. 119th Street, Leawood, KS 66209 at 10 AM on December 4th.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Brian McCann
January 21, 2026
Ed was a valued member of the Power Memorial Academy Class of `68. Ed is seen below at our 50th anniversary reunion. Rest in peace our dear brother alum. Pro Christo Rege.
Cyril Cox
December 7, 2025
Rest in peace Edward ...condolences to your family & friends....ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. Cyril Cox & family. Pennsylvania USA.
Deirdre Finnerty (Cox)
December 5, 2025
Saddened to hear of the untimely passing of my cousin Ed. It was a pleasure to meet him when he visited Ballina. My condolences to Jane & family.
Eamonn Mullarkey
December 5, 2025
So sorry to hear of Ed's passing, deepest condolences to Jane and extended families. I knew Ed in his days in Ballina having good times and his great support for my paintings . May he rest in peace.
Eamonn Mullarkey.
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William cox
December 4, 2025
So sorry to hear my cousin Ed passed away and my deepest sympathies to Jane and family and all his wonderful grandchildren, he was always a pleasure to be around and so positive, he was always guiding influence to me when I arrived in New York City in the summer of 1987 from Ballina in Ireland, Thankyou for caring,
God bless you, and all that love you
William cox and family , Philadelphia Pa
Maureen & John Clarke
December 3, 2025
To Jane and all Ed´s family, our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time of loss. Both John and I are heartbroken to learn of Ed´s untimely passing. As cousins, Ed and I had a wonderfully close relationship throughout the years in "Dear Old Ballina" and New York. We treasure the many memories of good times spent with Ed, sharing laughter, good food and reminiscing about times past. While Ed took his professional life very seriously, the choice of Memorial photo shows the fun loving side of his personality. Wearing his Bob Dylan teeshirt with a mischievous happy man smile, clearly he was "ForeverYoung" and lived his life according to these lyrics. Rest in peace dear Ed and may God keep your loved ones in the palm of his hand.
Maureen & John Clarke
December 3, 2025
To Jane and all Ed's family, our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this time of loss. Both John and I are heartbroken to learn of Ed's untimely passing. As cousins, Ed and I had a wonderfully close relationship throughout the years in "Dear Old Ballina" and New York. We treasure the many memories of good times spent with Ed, sharing laughter, good food and reminiscing about times past. While Ed took his professional life very seriously, the choice of Memorial photo shows the fun loving side of his personality. Wearing his Bob Dylan teeshhirt with a mischievous happy man
smile, clearly he was "Forever Young" and lived his life according to these lyrics. Rest in peace dear Edward and may God keep your loved ones in the palm of his hand.
Joseph Alvarez
December 3, 2025
I met Ed in the fall of 1996-29 years ago-at what I happily claim was my very first maintenance window (It may or may not have been the first but definitely one of my first and is better for the story if it was). A Saturday night at midnight was always a buzz of activity, and as the "FNG" (new guy), I was just sitting there, trying to stay out of the way.
Ed, however, made a beeline for me. He walked right up, stuck out his hand, and introduced himself, his company, and what he was there to do. He then grabbed a marker and launched into a lesson on the white board, explaining the UPS and the testing we were performing, followed by a passionate deep dive into what the battery was actually doing. Phrases like "whiplash effect this..." and "Coup de fouet that..." flew around-needless to say, it was a blur! But his sheer PASSION was infectious.
I finally finished the window, got home Sunday morning, and managed a couple hours of sleep before the Chiefs' noon kickoff. Waking up foggy, shaking the cobwebs out of my head, I remember thinking: "Wait... was that dude teaching me French last night? What the...?"
Even before Ed left us all, when he left GBA, I missed our conversations about life, work, and family. He was a GREAT Man who left a lasting impression on everyone he met, including the nervous new guy he took the time to teach 29 years ago. I will miss you as my friend, mentor, and Brother!
Dave Smith
December 2, 2025
Please accept our condolences to Jane and the family.
Dave Smith and family.
Gary Balash
November 28, 2025
I met Ed through IEEE standards committee. He was always welcoming and very friendly. I will miss him dearly and miss the times we would run into each other at conferences. Rest in peace my friend.
frank cirinna
November 27, 2025
Ed, you were a big brother to me since the late 90´s, and over the last quarter-century. My career would not have been what it is without you. I miss you dearly my friend! My condolences to the family.
Chris Carter
November 27, 2025
Ed, you´re a guiding light to so many. I´ll never forget the spirit and kindness you show. May peace and love shelter your family in this difficult time.
Mike Lux
November 27, 2025
Ed, your wisdom and knowledge will be greatly missed but your willingness to help others and your longtime friendship will be something I´ll always remember about you. You will be greatly missed!
Breda Cox
November 26, 2025
With heavy hearts we say goodbye to Edward.
Bringing peace to all that mourn Edward´s passing.
Love from all his family in Ireland
Breda, Kevin,Brónagh and Caoimhe
Paul Hectors
November 26, 2025
I met Ed Rafter in 2006 through the IEEE ESSB group, where he welcomed me and supported me with my first IEEE assignment. He took a genuine interest in my life and was always willing to help. Ed´s kindness and generosity will be greatly missed. My thoughts are with his loved ones during this difficult time.
Rachel Wood
November 25, 2025
Ed was one of the first to welcome me to the ESSB committee meetings when I first attended in 2017. His data center expertise helped me learn more about UPS designs in particular as I was just starting my career in electrical engineering.
He also genuinely cared about my personal life, asking about my family and donating to a charity that encouraged me following my first daughter's stillbirth. My time having known him was only 8 years, but he made a great, lasting impression with his gentle and jovial personality. He will definitely be missed.
Mike O'Brien
November 25, 2025
To Jane and ED´s family, I pray for your peace and comfort in this time of loss. The world is poorer without Ed and Heaven is richer with him. God needed another good man and great engineer. He got both with Ed.
I first met Ed in the late 1980´s at SIAC where I worked on several projects with him. Ed was quite an engineer, and I learned a lot working with him. Years later Ed helped get me involved in writing battery standards with IEEE. I will miss Ed, but one day we will meet again when the Good Lord calls my time on earth to an end.
Chris Searles
November 25, 2025
Wishing you peace and comfort in your time of grief.
Jose Marrero
November 25, 2025
Ed a dear friend, we argue, sometime agreed but always had fun when we got together.
Joseph Stamper
November 25, 2025
We had a lot of fun times.
Carolyn (and Steve too) Swartz
November 25, 2025
Whenever I met Ed, I knew I always liked him. He always seemed to me to be, as stated in his obituary, a man of integrity and always seeking to find the truth and behave accordingly.
I am very sad he is not with us here, but so happy for him to be at home again with his loved ones in heaven.
Thank you, Ed, for your kindness and loving heart.
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