Edmund (Ed) “The Duck Man” Zmuda
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution announces with great sorrow the death of former employee Edmund (Ed) “The Duck Man” Zmuda on May 21 at the Royal of Cotuit. He was 86.
Ed worked for Empire Clothing in the Falmouth Plaza from 1962-68, then enlisted with the US Army and was honorably discharged in 1974. He also served in the Army Reserves from 1952-1974 in the Svc Btry 1st Bn 211th Artillery, rising to the rank of Master Sgt. He was active duty from 1968-70. While on active duty, he was a correspondent for the Falmouth Enterprise. He was proprietor of Four Buoys for a short number of years. He worked for Issocsons Clothing (1972-76). He received his Associates Degree in Marketing at Cape Cod Community College in 1980. He was then invited back to teach Marketing by the college President and taught for two years. He worked for Puritan Clothing (1976-1998), retiring as the Falmouth store manager. While in retirement, he worked in the concession stand for the Cincinnati Reds Spring training facility in Florida. He also was the 2000 Chairman of the Cape Cod Census.
Ed began working at the WHOI Ocean Science Discovery Center and Gift Shop in 2001. Kathy Patterson, WHOI Ocean Science Discovery Center and Gift Shop manager, recalls his dedication to the customer and his sense of humor with the many visitors he interacted with during his time there. He left in 2013.
He was a 52 year member of the Falmouth Lodge of Elks. Over those years, he held positions as Treasurer, Chaplin, Exalted Ruler, District Deputy, Honorary Life Member, and Chairman of the Elks National Foundation (15 yrs.). He was also the past President for: Falmouth Plaza Merchant’s Association, Falmouth Jr. Chamber of Commerce, and the Falmouth Village Association where he also received Manager of the Year and was known as “Mayor of Main Street.” Ed also enjoyed his membership with the Boy Scouts Troup 42 and Pack 41. He received the Baden Powell Service Award from the Cape Cod Council of Boy Scouts. He was past Commander of the Falmouth Disabled American Veterans Chapter 81. His hobbies included golfing and bowling. Although he was born and raised in Fall River, he always considered Falmouth to be his home.
Ed was born in Fall River, the son of the late Joseph S. and Caroline (Pomprowicz) Zmuda. He was the loving husband of Barbara A. (Erickson) Zmuda for 56 years. He is also survived by his children: Michael D. Zmuda of Falmouth; Laurie A. Murphy and her husband Jay R. of E. Falmouth; Philip W. Zmuda and his wife, Su Zmuda of Lacey, WA; Joseph E. Zmuda of North Falmouth; Eric S. Zmuda and his wife Lisa Zmuda of North Falmouth; his grandchildren: Erin P. Murphy of E. Falmouth; Ryan Zmuda and Daniel Zmuda of Lacey, WA; Dana Margaret Zmuda of Kenwood, WA; Kristen Zmuda of Taunton, Mass; Nicholas Zmuda of Weymouth, Mass; Justin Zmuda of Biddeford, ME; and Amy Zmuda of North Falmouth. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews, and especially his loving god daughter, Karin M. Stafford of S. Burlington, VT.
Visiting Hours will be held on Thursday, May 30, from 4-8 p.m., in the Chapman Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 475 Main Street, Falmouth. A funeral Mass will be held on Friday, May 31 at 9 a.m., in St. Anthony’s Church, 167 East Falmouth Highway (Route 28), East Falmouth. Burial will follow in the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne at 11:15 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in his memory may be made to The Elks National Foundation, c/o Falmouth Lodge 2380, 140 Palmer Ave, Falmouth, Mass 02540.
Information for this obituary is from the Chapman Cole & Gleason website.