In Memory

Edward Hart

Edward Hart

Ed died at age 25 of suicide. He was survived by parents and siblings. Ed was a cross country star at WJ and broke track records that stood for many years. He was extremely intelligent, somewhat shy, played the violin, loved crossword puzzles, and had a wonderful wry sense of humor. He attended Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, for about two years. According to Mary Saloschin Hubbard, his high school girlfriend was Judy Wilson (one of Mary's best friends) and they double dated to the prom.



 
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06/05/09 04:02 PM #1    

Mary Saloschin (Hubbard)

I knew Ed from 7th grade (North Bethesda Jr. High) through WJ and beyond. I had a big crush on him at NB. He played violin well enough to be in the orchestra and was shy, smart and really good looking. He was a track star even in those days. He also smoked -- I remember leaving a concert at NB after the orchestra had performed (perhaps the choruses were singing?) and walking in the NB ball fields, having a cigarette with him. I didn't smoke, so it wasn't that easy -- but I really liked him and wanted to share the experience. Hey, it was a chance to be alone with him for a few minutes!

We were on the brink of being boyfriend/girlfriend in 9th grade (he started a multiplication dance with me. I was beyond thrilled!) when Linda Coon transferred to NB -- she liked Ed and wanted to be his girlfriend, so I backed down. (Linda and I later became good friends).

Ed and I stayed good friends through WJ. When he started dating Judy Wilson, one of my best pals, I was dating Jon Werner. Both guys were track stars, so it was a very nice foursome for awhile in the spring of 1969.

When Ed went to Kenyon College, we exchanged letters for awhile. However, he became depressed and didn't finish college. He visited me at home a few times, and I saw him in a mental health residential center in DC in the early 1970s. I'm not sure if I saw him after that. I moved to Boston in 1973 and found out about his death from my folks, as it was in the paper.

Ed, you were a wonderful friend, a bright and witty young man, and a superb athlete. I think of you often.


04/16/20 12:49 PM #2    

Chauncey Ford (Ford)

Ed was very special to me and apparently I was to him.   Although very shy, he was one of the greatest competitors in track.  He won almost every event I ask him to run from the 400 meters to the 2 mile.  One day near the end of my track practice, he came to see me.  He talked about his experiences in track and how much I meant to him.  I had no idea what he was planning to do after we finished talking.  It was a few hours later that I was told the he had committed suicide.  I received a beautiful letter from his parents, saying how much I meant to Eddie.  Eddie will always be my most memorable track star.  “Eddie me you find your peace in the here after”.🙏


04/16/20 02:56 PM #3    

Michael Loughran

Even though I did not know or hang out with Ed in school (so many cliques-within-cliques-within-cliques!), every time one of us passes, it rips out a piece of my heart/soul/memory . . . RIP, Edward Hart, and, when your name is read in 2024, I won't be shy about dampening a Kleenex or two. As for the rest of you guys, stay healthy and see ya in 2024!!! :-D 


04/16/20 04:37 PM #4    

Paula Forrest

These comments about Ed Hart are very touching.  I really knew him only tangentially, through my friends who were his friends.  Mr. Ford's writing about Ed is particularly poignant.  I never studied economics and certainly didn't run track; but at the reunion, I sensed something special about Mr. Ford and I told him I was sorry I hadn't taken his class!  Reading this today, I'm glad I at least made his acquaintance briefly, 50 years later!

We lost so many classmates in those first 10 years after graduation: car accidents, boating accidents, overdoses, suicides, and illness. And just a few years later, the Air Florida tragedy.  As we near our 51st anniversary of graduation, (and the pandemic makes clear how privileged and lucky we were, even if our prom was at a shopping mall), we also realize HOW YOUNG those friends were.  


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