EDWARD C. BASTOW

Edward C. Bastow, Jr., of Naples, Florida and Penn Lake Borough, Pennsylvania died
suddenly at his Pennsylvania home on Saturday, June 17, 2023.

Ned, as he was known by friends and family, was the eldest of Edward C. Bastow, Sr and Rosemary (Doane) Bastow’s six children. He was born and grew up in Alpena, Michigan, which he sometimes referred to as “the cedar swamps of North Michigan.” He graduated from Alpena High School where he played basketball and competed on the debate team, sometimes with and sometimes against, his younger brother Tom who was a year behind him in school. Ned enlisted in the Army in 1961. Having determined that he was a “natural linguist,” the Army assigned him to the Army Language School in Monterey, California to learn Korean. He later served on Kangwha Island in Korea near the North Korea border. 

After his military service, he received his college degree from Eastern Michigan University. He began a teaching career at Maple Ridge School in Alpena, then later taught history and coached basketball at Alpena High. Subsequently, he moved to Oklahoma, obtained a law degree and eventually served as General Counsel for the Oklahoma Regents of Higher Education. His passion for education and learning was life-long.

Upon retirement, Ned moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he served on the Board of the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. Ned enjoyed traveling adventures with his wife Margaret in the U.S. and abroad. He was a writer, an avid reader who particularly enjoyed non-fiction, an audiophile with appreciation for (almost) all genres of music and had a special fondness for the poems of W.H. Auden. He had amazing skill at crossword puzzles, sometimes doing two or three a day, always in record time.

Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife, Margaret M. (Brasuell) Bastow; three children, Geoffrey (Paula) Bastow of Louisville, CO, Anne (Patrick Anthony) Heraghty of Alpena, MI, and Joseph (Julie) Bastow of Alpena, MI; six grandchildren, Samantha Rose and Jacob Bastow, Patrick Joseph and Liam Heraghty; and Silas and Samuel Bastow; three siblings, Mary Christine Bastow (Rick Burke) of Alpena, MI; Thomas Bastow (Michael Call) of Palm Springs, CA; and William Bastow (Patricia Green) of Chelsea, MI. Ned will also be remembered fondly as the Plainsman and GrandNed by Margaret’s sons Matt (Mandy) and Jacob (Laura) Barker and their families.

Ned was preceded in death by his parents, his baby brother Joseph, and his sister, Susan Lane Bastow.

A memorial service in Alpena, Michigan will be held in August. The family requests that any memorial contributions be made to The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, www.Pittsburghfoodbank.org, 1 N. Linden Street, Duquesne, PA 15110 or to World
Central Kitchen, www.wck.org.