Edward M. Comstock., 87, of 295 Great Barrington Rd., West Stockbridge, died Wednesday, May 24, peacefully after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Born on Feb. 15, 1930, the son of Dorothy Comstock, he was raised on the family farm with his grandparents William and Grace Bennet Comstock. He was a 1948 graduate of the former Williams High School. During the Korean War, he served in the army as a sergeant.
Edward and his wife, Norma Vanasse, were married August 20, 1955. After marrying they lived in Kentucky, returning to Massachusetts where he worked as a radio announcer in North Adams. He was an owner and trainer of Thoroughbred racehorses and raced throughout New England, including at the Barrington Fair and Green Mountain racetracks. He worked for the United States Postal Service in Lee while going to college full time and providing for a family of five girls. He graduated from the North Adams State College where he went on to get a master’s degree in teaching, He taught for many years in the Berkshire Hills school system from which he retired. He loved running into his former students, who called him “Mr. C,” and always enjoyed hearing what they were up to. He and his wife operated a summer camp in Maine for his students. He was an avid reader and sportsman, spending much time fishing and hunting deer, turkey, pheasant and partridge.
Besides his wife of 61 years, he leaves five daughters: Lauren Sartori Hobgood and her husband, Van, of North Berwick, Maine; Suzanne Comstock and her husband, Wesley Gray, of McLean, Virginia; Lisa Clark of Gilmanton, New Hampshire; Karen Scaife of Powhatan, Virginia; and Nancy Smith and her husband, David, of Wenonah, New Jersey. He also leaves eight grandchildren: Andrea, Hayley, Ben, Tom, Karen, Jacob, Ryan and Vanessa; as well as his caregiver and friend, Pam Lockenwitz, of Pittsfield.
The family will receive friends at the Birches-Roy Funeral Home, 33 South St., Great Barrington, on Tuesday, May 30, from 1 to 3 p.m. A graveside service with military honors will be held Wednesday, May 31, at 11 a.m. at Rockdale Cemetery in West Stockbridge. Online condolences may be made through birchesroyfuneralservices.com. In lieu of flowers, friends are asked to donate to Great Barrington Fish and Game or the Alzheimer’s Association, both in care of the funeral home at 33 South St., Great Barrington, MA, 01230.
