Edward Dornig

Edward Dornig

Medfield, MA - Edward Joseph Dornig (Eddie) passed away on Saturday, December 6, 2025 at St. Joseph's hospital in Nashua, NH from complications of advanced Alzheimer's disease.

He was born on June 2, 1942 at Norwood Hospital in Norwood, MA to Edward Jacob and Ruth Frances (Pooler) Dornig.

In his younger years, Ed resided with his parents at the Dornig homestead in Walpole, MA. The family moved to Medfield, MA in the spring of 1945, where his parents purchased a diner in the heart of Medfield that would become known as "The Medfield Lunch" and moved to a home on Spring Street. Three years later, in the spring of 1948, the family bought and relocated to a property that was being built just down the street from their first home. Ed proudly took care of this home up until his passing.

Ed attended all of his early school years in Medfield and graduated in 1961 from Medfield High School. As a teenager he kept himself busy with the many jobs he worked, including, helping to dig graves and mow the lawn at the cemetery for Joe Roberts' Funeral Home, stocking shelves at the local A&P, and also at the Mobile gas station, which at the time was located in the center of town.

After graduating from high school, he along with his friend, Chicky, enlisted in the US Navy on October 12, 1961. Ed became a Sonar Technician for the Navy and he remained confidential about his duties for all of his life. He was stationed in Key West, Fl and then was transferred to Argentia in Newfoundland, Canada. Through a family friend back in Medfield, Ed was introduced to the Mercer family in St. John's, Newfoundland. The Mercer family remained close friends of Ed's for 63 years, and he would often travel back to see them with October 2022 being his last visit. After his time stationed in Newfoundland, he was transferred to Barbados in the Caribbean. He remained there until he was honorably discharged on February 7, 1966. Ed loved his time spent in the Navy and spoke of it fondly every chance he could.

After his military service, he returned to Medfield and attended Bentley College, graduating in 1971 with a degree in accounting. After which, he began his career at the Internal Revenue Service. As a Revenue Agent, he was transferred to Greenfield, MA. Where he would go on to meet his wife, Laurie. Later, Ed retired after 25 years and then became an Enrolled Agent, preparing individual and business tax returns.

As a very young adult Ed took an interest in car racing and would have his mother drive him to Norwood Arena to watch the stock cars. While in high school he drove to Indianapolis to attend his first Indy 500. His first Daytona 500 in Florida was in 1974 and attended over 40 of them thereafter. His love of motor racing led him to start a radio show known as The Checkered Flag Report on the Bear Country 95.3 station in Greenfield, Ma. There he reported on various moments of racing for over 30 years; he interviewed many people in the community alongside his co-hosts.

Ed went on to drive a racecar at Monadnock Speedway in Winchester, NH, which gave way to his love of driving, including road trips all over the country. His pride was his Westfalia VW Camper, which made a trip to the northernmost tip of Newfoundland and all the way down to the southernmost tip of Florida, Key West.

On August 26, 1989 he married Laurie Hall and the pair moved to Orange, Ma. On June 16, 1999 a new phase of his life began when his daughter, Bethany Neska-Marion Dornig, was born. Due to his retirement, he was able to raise her and this brought him great joy. He went on to be a computer teacher at her elementary school, chaperoned many school dances and was a constant presence in her life.

In August of 2013, Ed moved his family back to Medfield for Bethany to attend Medfield High School, where he also became a substitute teacher. He was very happy to rejoin the community of his hometown. You could often find Ed at the local swap working with electronics, mowing the lawn or enjoying a meal at Noon Hill and if you were to cross paths he would always have a story to tell. He loved talking to people.

Ed leaves behind his wife Laurie Dornig of 36 years of marriage and his daughter Bethany of Medfield. Mother-in-Law, Jeanette Hall, Sister-in-Law, Lurene Hall, Niece, Jillian (Hall) Bastine and her husband Cory and their daughter, Brooke all from Orange, MA.

Ed also leaves behind many cousins from the Dornig family along with many friends.

He was predeceased by his parents, Edward and Ruth Dornig, Brother-in-Law, Bryan Hall and Nephew Philip Hall.

His Funeral Mass will be Tuesday December 23rd 11:30 at St. Edward the Confessor Church, 133 Spring St, Medfield. Burial to follow with full military honors at Vine Lake Cemetery. Visiting hours will be Monday the 22nd from 3-6PM at the Roberts Mitchell Caruso Funeral Home, 15 Miller St, Medfield.

Those wishing may make memorial donations in Ed's memory to the Fisher House of Boston at: https://fisherhouseboston.org/donate/