V. Edwin Bixenstine

(1926 - 2021) The passing of Ed Bixenstine on April 20, 2021, following a brief illness marks the end of an era for his wife of 72 years, Anita; his five children; 14 grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. Ed was the son of Clara (Sissy) Jamerson Bixenstine Brown and VE Bixenstine, Sr. He was a child of the depression, deeply devoted to his mother and sister, Hope. A thoroughly decent and deeply thoughtful man, Ed died as he lived, with good cheer and surrounded by the love of his large family. Three qualities he valued most in life, and passed to his descendants: Devotion to family, the pleasures and rewards of a life of intellectual pursuits and social engagement, and constant striving towards the limits of his own personal athleticism. Ed was raised in southern Illinois and Anderson, Indiana. He joined the navy near the end of WWII and later met and married Anita when both were graduate students at the University of Illinois, where he received his PhD in psychology. After working as a clinician at VA hospitals, in 1956 he became a professor at Kent State University for forty years while also sustaining for many years a private practice in psychology. He started the Community House in Kent and Akron, a peer-guided group therapy enterprise that he found to be deeply rewarding. Ed also enjoyed writing and throughout his life published a variety of works including two western novels and a practical therapy manual for psychology students and clinicians. Ed and Anita were passionately involved with political and social issues, supporting candidates, canvassing, creating support groups and dialoguing through the internet. Ed also served for many years on the Kent Social Services Commission. Through all of his years in Kent he was an avid handball player, developing a coterie of fellow players, including his sons. In his fifties he took up running with Anita and most of his children, and began racing. In his seventies, he began biking as well, ultimately participating in duathlon (biking and running) races with his son, Bart and from that time through his eighties he was a ten time winner in his age group in world championship duathlons, traveling to compete in Australia, most of Europe, and Canada. Ed was still running and biking at age 93. Ed was preceded in death by his sister; son, Kimball (Marilyn Purdy), and son-in-law, Platt Safford. He is survived by wife, Anita; sons, Bart (Kim) and Michael (Dawn Mattingly); daughters, Lisa Safford and Belinda Potts (Tony Palmieri); as well as grandchildren, Matthew (Alyse Lamparyk), Andrew (Amy Cameron), Edward, Paul (Jennifer Ho), Nathan, Curtis, Emma and Elise Bixenstine, Gabriel (Robyn), Audrey, and Anthony Safford, and Brett, Brooke, and Riley Potts; his great-grandchildren, are Charles, Lucie, and Blake Bixenstine. Along with these fortunate family members, Ed loved his many devoted friends, and distant relatives, driving the highways of America and Europe, classical and jazz music played at full volume through large self-made speakers, big dogs, ice cream, coaching little league baseball, reading and writing books, and making Sunday morning chocolate-chip pancakes for a crowd. A celebration of Ed's life and legacy will be held on June 5th at 4 p.m. in shelter 4 at Fred Fuller Park in Kent. With gratitude to Hospice of the Western Reserve and his dedicated care givers. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you please consider donating to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (panCAN. Org).