Edward Paul Brunner

Edward (“Ed”) Paul Brunner, a long time resident of Catonsville, passed away peacefully at St. Joseph’s Nursing Home on April 22, 2024. Born at St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland he was the youngest of the five children of Catherine and George Brunner. Ed grew up on Augusta Avenue in Irvington and was a proud member of the “Irvington Boys”. He was a graduate of St. Joseph’s Monastery School and Mount St. Joseph’s High School. Ed was active in school and church activities including Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and serving as an altar boy.

Ed was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged as a sergeant after two years. Shortly after leaving the Army he met the love of his life, Peggy Spioch. They were a loving and devoted couple for more than sixty-one years, during which time they were rarely apart for more than a day.

Ed’s experience in Leadership School and serving as a Drill Instructor in the Army encouraged him to begin his lifelong immersion in education. Using the G.I. Bill he earned a BS Degree in Accounting from Loyola University and a Master of Science in Financial Management from George Washington University, going to school in the evenings while working full time. Ed also completed several business education programs such as the Executive Program in Business Management from Columbia University and IBM’s Executive Strategy School. He passed his CPA examination in 1959 on his first attempt. After earning his bachelor’s degree in 1962, Ed approached Loyola about teaching in their evening school and began more than forty years of college teaching highlighted by a full time position as Dean of Loyola’s Executive Graduate Programs and Director of its Applied Business Research Center (the Business Consulting Arm of the University) in the 1980’s. Aside from the four years as Dean at Loyola, the rest of Ed’s professional career was spent in the insurance business. Ed left Monumental Life Insurance Company as Chief Financial Officer to move to Loyola. Once he decided to return to the insurance industry, he took the position as CFO for Baltimore Life Insurance Company. In addition to the part-time teaching, Ed was also involved in other business activities including tax return preparation and real estate investments. After retiring he put together “Fast Eddie Stables” which owned a race horse who won three races.

Ed and his wife were active members of the Catonsville community for many years and had a successful part time antique business. Ed was a board member of many local organizations, often serving in leadership positions. These included the St. Agnes Foundation Board, Mount St. Joseph High School, the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Baltimore Metropolitan YMCA, Baltimore Goodwill Industries, St. Mark’s Church and Five Oaks Swimming Club among others. Ed was always very active in his children’s activities, coaching their teams and serving as head of the Cub Scout Pack, Bantam Football and Catonsville Little League. He was a devout Catholic who was one of the first extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion. Ed was also a joyous and enthusiastic world traveler. Along with family and friends, Ed and Peggy enjoyed more than 20 cruises and traveled to Europe many times beginning in 1977. Ed rose through the leadership ranks to become president of the International Insurance Accounting and Systems Association. His participation in this organization allowed Peggy and Ed to travel to all of the major cities around the United States and Canada. During this period, he also served as co-author on several Life Insurance Accounting textbooks through the organization.

Ed is survived by his four children, Greg (Jennifer), Matt (Angela), Lynn and Michael (Michele), who are eternally grateful for all of his support. He is predeceased by his loving wife Peggy and Lynn’s husband Dave. He is also survived by twelve loving grandchildren Sean, Theodore, Patrick, Brian, Tiernan, Maggie, Bailey, Brody, Steve, Katy, Colin and Amelia. All will miss their time with “Gampy” and his participation in their lives very much.

Visitation will occur 5pm-8pm at Harry H. Witzke’s Family Funeral Home in Ellicott City Friday April 26, 2024. A memorial service will be held at 1pm Saturday April 27 at St. Alphonsus Rodriguez Catholic Church in Woodstock, Maryland.

In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be made to St Joseph’s Nursing Home, 1222 Tugwell Drive, Catonsville, MD  21228.

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