Edwin John "Eddy" Zalewski, 64, of Simsbury, CT passed away on Tuesday, (July 2, 2013), surrounded by family members. He will live on through his loving family, who he also loved dearly: His wife, Diane, to whom he was married for nearly 40 years; daughter Sarah Sathaye and son-in-law Alok; treasured mother-in-law Marian Bachta; dear sister Virginia Bloise; loved niece Carla Rosario, her husband Frank, and sons Frank and Anthony; aunt Theresa Zenyk; and sister-in-law Linda Lough, her husband Dan, and children Kate, Drew, and Ryan. He was predeceased by his mother Blanche Zalewski, father Edwin Zalewski, uncle Teddy Zenyk, nephew Jonathan Rosario, and father-in-law Joseph Bachta, who was like a second father to him for many years. Eddy was born on May 12, 1949 in Fayetteville, NC, left for Japan at the age of 2, and moved to Hartford early in his childhood, where he developed great friendships and lived for many years. He graduated from Bulkeley High School in 1968, and Central Connecticut State University in 1974. He also pursued Business at the University of Connecticut, where his long-lasting love of Husky basketball began. He followed in his father's footsteps to serve his country as a member of the U.S. Army Reserves. His career began with 20 years of dedication to Ensign Bickford, where the EZDet explosive still carries his name. It was there that he became known as a go-to guy - first on the scene in a challenging situation. When the opportunity to join his father-in-law's company International Bridge & Iron presented itself, he jumped on the chance to bring his manufacturing experience to new products - steel bridges. Eddy loved all kinds of sports, from his beloved (and sometimes despised) New York Jets, Yankees and Boston Celtics, to his daughter's soccer matches (where he was known as the dad who ran up and down the sidelines at pace with the play of the game), to horse-racing and his family's long-standing trips to Saratoga Springs. As a boy and young adult, he boxed, played baseball, and basketball, and carried with him a love of each of these games throughout life as well. For many summers, he was "Fisherman Ed" both in Connecticut and during his family's vacations in Hilton Head where he spearheaded deep-sea fishing and crabbing excursions. His favorite times of all were spent with his "princess" and his "angel". He loved the quiet times at home, with his wife - everything from grilling out to gardening to a Saturday car ride, and later in joining his daughter at nearly every one of her athletic endeavors and activities. He was everything from a coach in summer baseball and winter basketball to a "chief" in Indian Guides. The three also spent many happy weekends in New York City, Baltimore, and Lake George - where he always insisted on trips to his favorite Italian restaurants. He could cook a mean marinara sauce himself, thanks to his sister Ginger who taught him. Eddy will be remembered by those who truly knew him as a man with heart and a great laugh, a proud father who embraced every minute he spent with his daughter, and most of all, as a dedicated husband who found his true love and the light of his world at age 17, and valued every minute with her to the very end.

Calling hours are on Friday, July 5, from 5-7 p.m. at the Vincent Funeral Home, 880 Hopmeadow St., Simsbury. Relatives and friends are invited to gather at the Funeral Home on Saturday, July 6 at 9:15 a.m. for a procession to St. Mary's Church, Simsbury, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial with military honors will follow at Fairview Cemetery, West Hartford. For directions and online tributes, please visit www.vincentfuneralhome.com.