Edward H. McAvoy

GREENFIELD-Edward H. McAvoy, 91, died on January 10, 2018 at Buckley Healthcare Center in Greenfield, Massachusetts. Born on November 2, 1926 to Daniel E. McAvoy, a builder in New York City, and Jennie VanPelt (Familton) McAvoy, who died within days of her son’s birth, Ed was raised in New York City. He attended Bryant High School in Queens, where his relay team won the New York City championship for the Mile Relay. He graduated from LaSalle Military Academy on Long Island, where he ran the anchor leg for his relay team, leading them to victory in the national prep school championship relay event at the Penn Relays. Ed attended Columbia College (University) and served in the US Navy for 18 months at the end of World War II as an Electronic Technician’s Mate Third Class.

Edward started his fifty-five-year career in publishing with twenty-three years at the New York Times. He worked for several other publishing organizations, including Time Life and Asia Magazine before founding McAvoy Advertising and Marketing, Inc. He also served as president of the New York chapter of the International Advertising Association. He finished his career as publisher of the South China Morning Post International Weekly in Hong Kong.                                                                                                   

Ed and the first love of his life, Norma Jean Stout, met when they were 16 years old and eloped three years later on March 8,1946. During their sixty-five years of marriage, they had three children – Diane, John and Jennie. They made many wonderful and welcoming homes from New York, where Ed and Norma were founding members of the Hickory Hill Cooperative in Tappan to Hong Kong, where Ed achieved his life long career goal in publishing while savoring the food he loved the most, to Arizona, where Ed started a Columbia University Alumni Club. While in Arizona, he participated in the Humanities Seminar Program at the University of Arizona and became a board member on the College of Humanities Advisory Board. He finally settled in Massachusetts, where one chapter of his life ended and a new chapter began. In July 2010, Norma passed away after suffering from Alzheimer’s; Ed tenderly cared for her at home the entire time.

In December 2011, Ed met the other love of his life, Lynn Hoffman. They shared six blissful years together before Lynn passed away 20 days before her beloved, on December 21, 2017.

In addition to his parents, his wife, and his partner, Ed was predeceased by his sister Faith (McAvoy) Morse DeHaven, and his sister-in-law, Berda (Stout) Rittenhouse. Edward is survived by his son, John McAvoy and his wife Judy McAvoy of Sparkill, NY and by his daughters, Diane McAvoy of Austin, TX and Jennie McAvoy and her husband Bart Landenberger of South Deerfield, MA. He is also survived by six grandchildren, Sage and Lauren McAvoy, Travis and Alison King, and John and Amelia Landenberger as well as by many nieces and nephews and two great-grandchildren. Ed is also survived by his caregiver and loyal friend, Ellen Villani of Greenfield, MA and by the caring staff at Buckley HealthCare Center in Greenfield, MA, whose dedication, kindness, and commitment to helping others exemplify the best of humanity.

Ed lived a joyful and exciting life, enriched by dear family, friends, and neighbors, by rewarding work and travel, and by plenty of delicious food! He was the consummate optimist and a generous nurturer, whose love of life lifted and charmed all who came in contact with him.

End of life arrangements are entrusted to Avalon Life Celebration, Southwick, MA. Please visit Edward’s memorial page at www.avaloncelebration.com. A celebration of Ed’s life will be held in Piermont, NY in June.

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