SOUTHWICK: 
Edward H. Nitsch “Ed”, 89, son of the late Hermann Fredereich and Berta (Braun) Nitsch, passed away on October 15, 2014, surrounded by family. He lived in Southwick for over fifty years on beautiful Lake Congamond. Ed was born in New Haven, CT, on January 7, 1925, and grew up in East Haven, graduating from East Haven High School in 1942. He was a proud, decorated veteran of WWII and served as an Army Medic from 1943 to 1945 in George S. Patton’s Third Army. From England, Ed landed on Utah Beach, Normandy and continued through the northern France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Rhineland, and the Ardennes (The Bulge) campaigns. He was awarded three Bronze Battle Stars and his outfit won the Meritorious Unit Badge. In addition to his medical duties, because he spoke fluen
t German, Ed served as a translator with German POWs. He was discharged two weeks before his 21st birthday on December 21, 1945.Using the GI Bill, Ed attended and graduated in 1950 from the University of Connecticut where he was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. While at UConn, he met his first wife, Dorothy Venberg, and they married on September 9, 1950. He worked for Armour and Company, began his career with Ayerst Laboratories in 1959, and retired in 1985. Ed served the Town of Southwick for fifty years on various boards and committees. He served on the Park and Rec Commission as a member and President of the Board of Directors. He was a baseball manager, basketball coach, and a twenty-year baseball umpire. He also served the town on the Southwick Scholarship Foundation, Cemetery Commission, and the Senior Center Board of Directors. He was a member of the Southwick Congregational Church, American Legion Post 338, and the VFW Post 872.Ed was predeceased by his wife of 53 years, Dorothy. He is survived by his current wife, Ruth Preston; two daughters: Nancy Mackinney and husband Tom of Newbury, MA, their son Tom Jr.(wife Nicole); and Judith Nitsch of Weston, MA; five sons: Eric and wife Melanie of Westfield, their children Bethany and David; Arthur and wife Karen of Bellbrook, OH, their children Joel and Alicia; Edward of Southwick and children Andrew, Aime(husband Alan), and Anna; Charles of Southwick; and Jeffrey of Southwick and his son Joseph. He also leaves four great-grandchildren and two stepchildren: Pamela and Paul Preston (wife Melissa), both of Burlington, VT.Ed was an avid tennis player, enjoyed a competitive game of cards, and liked nothing better than entertaining at his house on the lake. He particularly enjoyed Tuesday night dinner and cards with his five sons and his “adopted” sons, Timmy #6 and Eddie “Bag-a-Donuts.” Funeral services will be held Monday, October 20th, 2014 at 11:00 AM at the Southwick Congregational Church, 488 College Highway, Southwick, MA. Burial will follow in New Cemetery. Family & friends may gather for visiting hours on Sunday, Oct. 19th from 2:00—6:00 PM at the Southwick-Forastiere Funeral Home, 624 College Highway, Southwick, MA.The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Southwick Recreation Center, PO Box 101, Southwick, MA 01077, or the Southwick Congregational Church, PO Box 260, Southwick, MA 01077.
