Edward G. Stephany

3/13/31 – 5/12/23. Edward Stephany has died of old age. Beloved husband of Dolores Galicke Stephany (Doe, RIP). Father of Edward G. Stephany, III (Ted, RIP), Pamela, and Kurt (Elizabeth Greaton Stephany). Grandfather to Jenna and Danny Stephany. Son of Edward G. Stephany, Sr. and Jean Lansdell Stephany. Ed was the last of his generation and is pre-deceased by his brother Phillip and his wife Patricia; and his sister Candace and her husband Lewis. Ed had beautiful relations with all of the nieces and nephews who are sad to see Uncle Ed go. Ed was born in New York City, raised in Bethel, CT, and moved to Florida to attend Stetson in Deland, FL in 1951.

Ed was a graduate of University of Florida Law School and practiced in Fort Lauderdale. Ed’s career took off in the late 1960s when as Assistant State Attorney, he was the winning prosecutor for the Murf the Surf murder trial, including a mention in Time magazine. As exciting a time as that was, Ed truly loved the practice of law and worked to ensure that every client was treated fairly, properly, and justly. He was a member of the Florida Bar for over 50 years. A legal peer calls him a legend. People would know he was nearby as he drove to work in his Triumph convertible, wearing his hat, bow tie, and cowboy boots. Upon retiring to Mt. Dora, he became a mediator for Lake County.

Captain Edward G. Stephany’s passion was flying and he loved his decades spent with the US Navy Reserve as a pilot. He was a QB - #19,028. Privately he owned his own airplane which he called his “little red sportscar in the sky”. Zooming around the Everglades flying “low and slow” was the thing to do. He was on the City of Fort Lauderdale Aviation Advisory Board from 1974-1986. He also sat on the boards of several long-ago local airlines.

Ed was a faithful man and loved his volunteer time in leadership roles at 1st Presbyterian Church of Fort Lauderdale, and then again at 1st Presbyterian Church of Mt. Dora. He loved to sing hymns during the service, and especially at Christmas time. We all know that he will be signing up for the heavenly choir.

Ed was on his bicycle daily – 30+ years of early morning peddling. He estimates he put 200,000 miles on his bike by the time he hung up his wheels at the age of 85. It was that daily morning work out that made for a strong body, which his doctors regularly congratulated.

Ed always had a good-sized vegetable garden going, which he maintained organically in order to go outside to pick and eat that day’s yield straight from the vine. After his bike ride, he would crawl around in the dirt for meditation and harvest. He always left a few tomatoes and beans for the birds and critters – “they don’t eat that much”.

Ed missed Doe so much these past few years since she died. He simply had to be with her, and so he left us. For the 64 ½ years they were married, they shared a nightly martini when home from work or at exactly 5pm – whichever came first. No tv or distractions beyond what nature provided out the window or on the deck, they shared stories of their day – starting with the mutual toast of “HHOTL” (Hippity Hip Over The Lip). And so, Ed has joined Doe, and all family and friends for their great reunion. Ad Cielo.

A donation to the 1st Presbyterian Church of Fort Lauderdale can be made in Ed’s honor. A memorial service for Edward and Dolores will be at a later date.