Edward M. Thurber III

Edward M. Thurber III, 85, of Marlborough passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 18, 2025, in Marlborough Hospital surrounded by his loving family after a period of declining health.

Ed was born in Natick, MA on July 24, 1940. He graduated from Natick High School, Class of '58.

Despite missing the 1st grade due to a bout with Polio followed by Rheumatic Fever, and a couple of years of rehabilitation for weak legs, he went on to letter in Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field in High school.

Following High School, Ed joined the Army for 6 years. During this time, he met and married his wife, Yvonne, and she gave birth to 2 of his 4 children. In 1966, he left the Army and moved to Marlborough.

Ed was an active member of the community. In the 70s, he was the Marlboro Youth Soccer League Vice President for 10 years, where he coached and refereed, and taught coaching and refereeing.

During the 80s and 90s, Ed was a member and on the Board of Directors of Marlborough Cultural Affairs. It was during that time he decided to turn his love for theater into a business, and opened Marlboro Theatrical Technologies, on Main Street.

He started the Total Theater Workshop, where school-aged children learned about stage direction and performance, set design and construction, and sound and lighting. Participants would then showcase their skills by performing a theatrical presentation Ed wrote. He was active with Marlborough Theater One and the Marlborough Community Chorus, and he worked with the operation of the very popular Marlborough Arts and Entertainment Festival, and the Labor Day Parade.

In 2002, Ed closed his store and went to work as a Sound Designer and Technical Director for Foothills Theatre in Worcester, but he continued to work as sound coordinator for events for the city of Marlborough.

In 2009, Ed took over the reigns as Director of the Marlborough Labor Day Parade, from the retiring George Whapham. He had to leave the position after 5 years to care for his ailing wife, but he continued to be part of the Parade Committee and Parade Day Volunteers.

He was sound coordinator for the Marlborough Heritage Festival and was presented with the Marlborough Heritage Hero Award in 2016, and for the Concerts on the Common summer music series for several more years until a diagnosis of Parkinson's forced him to stop.

Ed was an Honorary member of the Marlborough Lions Club, and a life member of Marlborough Post 0132 American Legion.

Ed was predeceased by his wife of 56 years, Yvonne T. (McLachlan) Thurber in September 2020,

Ed is survived by his son, Edward M. Thurber IV of Sturbridge, 3 daughters: Maria Maillet of Hudson, Andrea Thurber of Boylston, and Aimee Geehreng and her husband Justin of NY, 6 grandchildren, Ivy, Fey, Nathan, Cameron, Yvonne, and Jacqueline, as well as several nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.

A Celebration of Ed's Life will be held on Friday, January 9, 2026, from 4-6 pm in the Short & Rowe Funeral Home, 95 W. Main St., Marlborough, MA.

A Graveside Service will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 11 am in Evergreen Cemetery, Wilson St., Marlborough.