[IMAGE]Edward Stephen Podlenski
Chandler , AZ – Edward (Ed) Stephen Podlenski was born in Turners
Falls, Massachusetts on December 6, 1930. Ed Podlenski passed away on
June 16, 2025 due to complications from a massive stroke.
Ed attended elementary, middle and high school in Turners Falls and
after high school enlisted in the United States Air Force. He served
in the Air Force for four years. He was a musical specialist in the
Air Force and also performed barber services. He highlighted his Air
Force career with an opportunity to perform in a concert in Bermuda.
Ed married his grade school sweetheart, Joan Gay shortly after leaving
the Air Force in1951. They remained married for the rest of his life.
Following the Air Force, Ed attended Barber School in Boston
Massachusetts. Ed opened Ed’s Barbershop after graduating from Barber
School and operated Ed’s Barbershop for 61 years. While never fully
retiring from his profession as a barber, he continued to cut hair for
family and friends up until his passing. He was devoted to the barber
profession. Ed was a licensed master barber. 2025 will be the 70th
anniversary of the opening of Ed’s Barber shop.
He continued his musical career as he participated in the Turners
Falls city band performing multiple times a year while he lived in
Turners Falls. A movie was even made in his barbershop with the actor
Sam Elliott. Ed also sponsored several local activities at St. Stan’s
and St. Kaz.
Ed was a member of the Knights of Columbus. One of his favorite things
to do was to attend local clam bakes. He attended church at the Our
Lady of Czestochowa Parish in Turners Falls, Massachusetts until
moving to Chandler, AZ.
Ed loved to go fishing and he was an avid reader throughout his life.
One of his favorite summer activities was taking his boat up the
Connecticut River.
In 2002, Ed sold his barbershop and followed his wife to Arizona where
they continued to reside through the rest of his life. Ed was known
and loved by the people of the Turners Falls community due to his
long-standing provision of barbering services for 61 years but also
due to his extensive benevolence. Even in retirement, Ed was known to
offer his time, guidance and resources on a daily basis.
Edward Stephen Podlenski is survived by his wife Joan Podlenski. He is
also survived by his eldest daughter Denise Hammerstrom and her two
sons Jeff Plourde and Greg Plourde. He is also survived by his
youngest daughter, Diane Marie Podlenski and her two children William
Freiheit and Zigmund Freiheit. He is preceded by his daughter Debra
Erickson, his brother Eugene Podlenski and his parents Lena and
Zigmund Podlenski.
He was laid to rest at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona July
23, 2025.