Edward James Kupfer was born January 21, 1938, in Queens, New York, the youngest, and adored by his three boisterous older sisters. He was a proud graduate of Brooklyn Preparatory School and Villanova University, with Villanova's 1985 NCAA championship win over Georgetown making the list of sacred Kupfer family history.
Ed had a successful career in sales, working for companies that produced everything from medical supplies to building materials to fuel management systems. In his 50's, he finally ventured out and started his own business as a sales representative. Within two years he'd built a profitable company and only wished he'd started years earlier.
Ed was a born salesman with an infectious smile and a big personality. He moved to Long Beach from New York in 1971 and after only weeks in California, met his wife Donna Luebbe Kupfer. They both seemed to know this was it because they married just six months later. The Kupfers settled first in Bixby Knolls and later moved to Naples. Ed quickly adopted the California lifestyle and one of his greatest loves was taking his bike on long rides down the coast. He also spent many years drinking his morning coffee at the Seal Beach pier, taking in the beach sights, sounds and smells.
Ed was a lifelong lover of classical music, so much so that if you named a composer and a specific piece, 9 times out of 10 he could hum the tune for you. Even into old age, his sense of humor persisted. At family dinners Ed would frequently laugh himself to tears at his own jokes.
He passed away peacefully at home on April 19 due to complications from colon cancer and dementia. Ed is survived by his wife, Donna, and his two daughters, Paula and Patty. They love and miss him very much.