Edward Stephen Podlenski

Edward Stephen Podlenski

Chandler , AZ - Edward (Ed) Stephen Podlenski was born in Turners Falls, Massachusetts on December 6, 1930. Ed Podlenski passed away on June 16, 2025 due to complications from a massive stroke.

Ed attended elementary, middle and high school in Turners Falls and after high school enlisted in the United States Air Force. He served in the Air Force for four years. He was a musical specialist in the Air Force and also performed barber services. He highlighted his Air Force career with an opportunity to perform in a concert in Bermuda.

Ed married his grade school sweetheart, Joan Gay shortly after leaving the Air Force in1951. They remained married for the rest of his life.

Following the Air Force, Ed attended Barber School in Boston Massachusetts. Ed opened Ed's Barbershop after graduating from Barber School and operated Ed's Barbershop for 61 years. While never fully retiring from his profession as a barber, he continued to cut hair for family and friends up until his passing. He was devoted to the barber profession. Ed was a licensed master barber. 2025 will be the 70th anniversary of the opening of Ed's Barber shop.

He continued his musical career as he participated in the Turners Falls city band performing multiple times a year while he lived in Turners Falls. A movie was even made in his barbershop with the actor Sam Elliott. Ed also sponsored several local activities at St. Stan's and St. Kaz.

Ed was a member of the Knights of Columbus. One of his favorite things to do was to attend local clam bakes. He attended church at the Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish in Turners Falls, Massachusetts until moving to Chandler, AZ.

Ed loved to go fishing and he was an avid reader throughout his life. One of his favorite summer activities was taking his boat up the Connecticut River.

In 2002, Ed sold his barbershop and followed his wife to Arizona where they continued to reside through the rest of his life. Ed was known and loved by the people of the Turners Falls community due to his long-standing provision of barbering services for 61 years but also due to his extensive benevolence. Even in retirement, Ed was known to offer his time, guidance and resources on a daily basis.

Edward Stephen Podlenski is survived by his wife Joan Podlenski. He is also survived by his eldest daughter Denise Hammerstrom and her two sons Jeff Plourde and Greg Plourde. He is also survived by his youngest daughter, Diane Marie Podlenski and her two children William Freiheit and Zigmund Freiheit. He is preceded by his daughter Debra Erickson, his brother Eugene Podlenski and his parents Lena and Zigmund Podlenski.

He was laid to rest at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona July 23, 2025.