William Edward Clopein

William Edward Clopein, known affectionately to friends and family as Ed, embarked on his final adventure, leaving the stage of life as quietly as a whisper on December 18, 2025. Born on May 22, 1953, in the family home on the Magothy River in Maryland, Ed's life was a tapestry of vibrant colors and textures, woven with love, laughter, and a touch of the unconventional. A U.S. Navy Veteran, guitar and harmonica enthusiast, and blues lover, he lived by the beat of his own drum. An HVAC engineer by trade, he knew how to keep things cool, but it was his warmth that drew people in. He designed and custom-built several restaurants and bars in Baltimore, including the back bar at the Cat's Eye Pub in Fells Point, a testament to his eye for beauty and his knack for creating a good time. Raised in a family of clowns, Ed took the legacy of laughter seriously. You might remember him as "Stokey the Clown" at Hot August Blues and the DC Blues Festival, where he spread chuckles, chortles, and balloon animals.
Ed was also known as "The Forkman," turning ordinary utensils into extraordinary jewelry and fork art that he sold while enjoying blues festivals around the country. Ed's spiritual nature was as eclectic as his interests, finding the sacred in a blues riff, the curve of a crafted metal piece, or the laughter of his beloved wife, Tobi Tyberg-Clopein. Together, they navigated life's circus with grace and humor. Ed is also survived by seven daughters and four siblings. As a longtime Baltimore Blues Society member and supporter, Ed's absence will be felt at every strum and every harmonica solo. He was the guy who could turn any spoon into a musical instrument, and his spones-playing was as legendary as his fork art.
Ed was interesting, creative, and passionate-words that only scratch the surface of a life lived in full color. He left this world as he lived in it: on his own terms, peacefully in his sleep at home, without fuss or fanfare. So here's to William Edward Clopein, Ed, Stokey the Clown, The Forkman, a man who never just walked through a door when he could make an entrance. His curtain call may have come, but the encore will resonate in the hearts of those who loved him, laughed with him, and were lucky enough to be part of his extraordinary show.
Memorial contributions in Ed's name may be made to the Hungry for Music.