Edward Topor

LELAND: Ed Topor, at the age of 81, passed away peacefully September 14th with loved ones at his side at the Dr. Robert M. Fales Hospice Pavilion in Wilmington, NC, after a several year, steadfast battle with cancer.

Known for a sharp wit and intellect, a bellowing laugh – and his crystal blue eyes – Ed was a loyal and reliable friend, and a close confidant to many.

He was the son of Peter & Stella (Niemiec) Topor and raised in the Three Rivers village of Palmer, MA. He received his early education from the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph at Sts. Peter & Paul Parochial School (Three Rivers) and graduated from Palmer High School in the Class of 1960.

His life in Three Rivers, including his years at Sts. Peter and Paul, was an everyday celebration of the full-blood Polish heritage gifted to him by his maternal and paternal ancestors. He lived all his early years in Three Rivers in a 3-family home owned by his Babci & Dziadziu (his mother's parents), and all three dwellings were filled with relatives. The delight of some great polkas inspired him to become a young, aspiring accordion player, although there are no reports of compensation for delivering that particular skill-set.

Following high school, he went on to become a forever-proud cadet of the Class of 1964 of the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, NY where he completed his mission with a BS in General Engineering. Upon graduation from USMA, Ed fulfilled his active-duty commitment serving four years as a Captain in the United States Air Force. While in the USAF, he simultaneously attained a Masters in Systems Management in 1968 from the University of Southern California.

Soon after discharge from the Air Force, Ed relocated to Long Island, NY to begin his civilian work-life. Once on the Island, he met Marie DeStefano and they were married in September 1973. They moved their home to the Chicago, IL suburb of Glenview in the mid-70s along with Marie's daughters, Marie and Laura. Sadly – after too few years together – his wife Marie passed away unexpectedly in August 1993.

In his early career, Ed worked with The Options Clearing Corp, Doubleday & Co., Standard & Poors, and Hughes Aircraft. In the early 1980s thru the mid-2000s, he founded and ran SCM Consulting Inc., a boutique agency that served many blue-chip clients, providing expertise in modifying business operations and optimizing efficiencies, especially in relation to Supply Chain Management.

Ed moved to North Carolina in 2003 where he would live his final years in Leland. From 2004 to 2011, he was an Executive in Residence at The University of North Carolina, Wilmington in the Cameron School of Business where he taught Operations Mgmt, MIS and Lean Six Sigma, and spearheaded many Cameron program development projects. Beginning in 2014, during his later "retirement years", Ed was an Adjunct Instructor at Brunswick Community College teaching Logistics and Supply Chain Management.

To say Ed loved golf is an understatement. While in Illinois, many memorable weekends were enjoyed at their golf vacation home in Galena, IL. He continued to hit the course at least weekly in North Carolina thru 2023 and made numerous trips over the years to play many of his favorite golf meccas, including a dream-come-true trip when he and Marie played The Old Course at St. Andrews Links in Scotland in 1990.

From his days as a pond hockey goalie in Three Rivers, Ed went on to serve between the posts in an adult ice hockey league during his years on Long Island and he was an early-in New York Islanders fan, having bought season tickets for the inaugural 1972-73 campaign. And his treasured Boston Red Sox would always hold a special place in his New England heart.

Ed's love for West Point and the brotherhood he found there would remain a central focus of his life, including many recent years of spirited involvement with the Cape Fear (NC) West Point Society, where he was Vice President of the Society from 2021-23.

Ed was pre-deceased by his parents, his wife Marie, his sister Theresa (Topor) Bowler and brother Peter Topor, his brother-in-law Roger Bowler, and his nephew Gregory Bowler.

He is survived by his beloved companion, Peggy Meyer of Leland, NC, his sister-in-law Sandy (Jasiukiewicz) Topor, nieces & nephews Kevin, Sean, Melissa and Diane Bowler, Dawn Bowler Allaire, and Peter Topor III, many very-dear-to-his-heart cousins, and many great-nieces and great-nephews.

A sincere Thank You is due to many for the love, strength and support provided to Ed through his extended battles with cancer – especially his friends and colleagues in the greater Leland community, several healthcare teams, the Cape Fear West Point Society, and Peggy, his exceptionally solid rock through it all.

A passage from the USMA Cadet Prayer:
"Encourage us in our endeavor to live above the common level of life. Make us to choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong, and never to be content with a half truth when a whole can be won. Endow us with courage that is born of loyalty to all that is noble and worthy, that scorns to compromise with vice and injustice and knows no fear when truth and right are in jeopardy."

A ceremonial inurnment of Ed's remains will be held at the United States Military Academy at West Point in the spring of 2025 on a date to be announced. If you are interested in attending, please send an email to Sean Bowler – spbowler@icloud.com – and he will send the date and details as they become available.

Aquamation services were entrusted to Tranquility Cremation by Aquamation in Wilmington, NC.

Please consider making a donation in Ed's name to the American Cancer Society at cancer.org/donate