Former Walpole High School Biology and Marine Science teacher Edward Joseph Leitz died due to a genetic liver disease on the night of Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016 at the age of 36. Leitz taught at Walpole High for over 10 years after starting in the 2003-2004 school year and retiring officially in the summer of 2016.
“He was a very quiet, laid back person, but he was also a very dynamic teacher,” said science department head Maryellen O’Malley. “I couldn’t tell the difference if he was teaching a CP2 or a CP1 or an Honors class because he had the same demeanor and the same enthusiasm no matter what level of students he taught.”
Since birth, Leitz and his family knew that he had a genetic liver disease, but it was not problematic during his childhood. He hoped to receive a transplant once his liver could not function properly any longer and cancer was imminent. In 2013, Leitz temporarily left his teaching job and received a living liver donation from his mother, and returned to teaching for the 2014-2015 school year and was working on receiving his master’s degree in science education from Montana State University. However, the disease came back in the transplant, and he officially retired in 2016 and was waiting to be put on the list for a liver donor. Eventually, he became too ill too quickly to receive a transplant and could not be considered for a transplant.
Leitz passed away at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida where he had undergone treatment efforts and was waiting for a donor in the months previous to his death.
Leitz grew up on a farm just outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and always enjoyed being outdoors. He was an avid hunter and fisherman throughout his life. For education, Leitz received a degree in science education for biology. Ten years ago, he married his wife, Stacey, who is also a biology teacher. They moved to a house along the coast, which greatly complemented Leitz’s love for marine science. The two have a son, Noah, who is four years old. They currently reside in Carolina, Rhode Island and other family members remain in Pennsylvania.
Over the summers, Leitz volunteered at the Mystic Aquarium in Stonington, Connecticut. Previously, Leitz worked for Nature’s Classroom, an educational center in Ivoryton, Connecticut that served as the destination for many middle school field trips, along with several other Walpole High School science teachers, including biology teacher Susan Wick.
Wick said, “He was a great colleague. One of my fondest memories of him was Halloween a few years ago, where we had a scary under-the-ocean theme, and he came in wearing a full human shark costume. It was hilarious. He was quiet, but had a wicked sense of humor.”
A memorial service celebration was held in Wilmore, Pennsylvania on Dec. 27, 2016 and a memorial mass was held in Kingston, Rhode Island on Dec. 30, 2016. Donations may be made to the memorial for Leitz on gofundme.com (see attached link on our website). His eulogy for the services was based on the poem “Gone Fishing” by Dalmar Pepper.
I’ve finished life’s chores assigned to me,
So put me on a boat headed out to sea.
Please send along my fishing pole
For I’ve been invited to the fishin’ hole.
Where every day is a day to fish,
To fill your heart with every wish.
Don’t worry, or feel sad for me,
I’m fishin’ with the Master of the sea.
We will miss each other for awhile,
But you will come and bring your smile.
That won’t be long you will see,
Till we’re together you and me.
To all of those that think of me,
Be happy as I go out to sea.
If others wonder why I’m missin’
Just tell ‘em I’ve gone fishin’
-Dalmar Pepper
