Edward H. Pettengill

Edward H. Pettengill, 91 years old, passed away peacefully Thursday, November 3, 2022 at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton, NY.

Edward was born in 1931 to Grace Vivian Howe and Edward Lee Pettengill in Elmira, New York. As a child, music was his favorite activity. He would often sing along to the radio, in school, and along with his mother as she played piano. Both of his parents played the violin, viola and cello and at 9 years old he began taking violin lessons from Mrs. Ida Kaubisch, concert mistress of the Elmira Symphony. Early on he also developed an interest in photography (pun intended), model airplanes, and Industrial Arts – taking all the shop courses he could.

He continued to pursue his music, learning French Horn, playing violin in the Orchestra, and singing in church choirs and the Boy’s Glee Club at Southside High School. Graduating in 1950 with a strong ability in violin, he was accepted for study at Buffalo State, but six weeks later he decided to withdraw and make music teaching his career by attending Eastman School of Music in Rochester New York, where he auditioned and was accepted in 1950. While playing for the Eastman Orchestra, he discovered that there was “a serious shortage of viola players,” so he changed his applied music minor from violin to viola. At Eastman he also continued to pursue his interest in photography. With a good eye for composition, lighting and portraiture, he became staff photographer and editor for The Score, Eastman School of Music’s yearbook. In 1954, he even worked as an assistant to Ansel Adams on photography for that year’s edition.

Upon graduating with his bachelor’s degree in Music Education in 1954, he taught music part-time at Roberts Wesleyan College near Rochester while playing and touring as a violist with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. He then moved to Silver City, New Mexico to teach beginning violin at Cobre Consolidated Schools of Bayard. It was there he met his first wife. They moved back to Elmira, New York for a short time, then settled in Rochester where they began a family with two children, Sydnye and Bradley. Ed taught in the Rochester School District, and later, Greece Central Schools.

After 6-1/2 years of marriage ended, he met Esther Freelove, an Eastman School graduate in Musical Education while singing in the choir at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Soon they fell in love, were married, and moved to Binghamton, New York. Here Ed got a job teaching at the Harry L. Johnson Elementary School in Johnson City, and also honed his skill as a piano technician. After a year in Binghamton, Esther and Ed built a house in Hawleyton, where Esther was a Music Educator at Brookside Elementary School. During this time, Ed became a volunteer fireman for the Town of Binghamton. Over the years he answered many fire and rescue calls. He remained in service to the community for more than 50 years, serving as Firefighter, Engineer and Fire Police.

In 1971 Esther joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Ed followed in 1974. They brought their love of music to the Church, where Esther plays organ to this day. Ed and Esther have been active in the Binghamton Ward for more than 50 years, holding many callings in music, and teaching congregants of all ages. Ed holds the Melchizedek Priesthood, and together they worked at the Palmyra Temple for twelve years.

In 1968 they had their first child, Jessica, and two years later their second, Rebecca. Jessica, Becky, Syd and Brad grew up in a home filled with music, and Jessica and Becky continued developing into a professional violinist, and cellist, respectively. Their home was graced with many instruments, including a grand piano, and music was a daily activity.

Soon after moving to Binghamton, Ed became a member of The Binghamton Symphony Orchestra, The BC Pops, The Tri-Cities Opera, The Summer Savoyards, the annual Downtown Singers’ production of the Messiah and more recently, a member of The Harmony Club. Esther performed with Ed as a singer in the BC Pops Chorus, and during their 58 years of marriage, they have enjoyed numerous activities and pursuits together, from music education, to playing recitals, singing and playing at many venues and events. After retirement from the Binghamton Symphony, Ed joined the Binghamton Community Orchestra.

Ed’s life has been all about music. From teaching at school, to playing violin and viola professionally, to becoming the area’s most sought-after piano technician for more than 50 years. During his career as a piano technician, he tuned for such greats as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Errol Garner, Peter Nero, Peter Schickele, Marian McPartland, and others. Even as he approached 90 years old, he still gave violin lessons, both in person and online, tuned pianos, and taught others how to tune pianos.

Ed has been a member the Binghamton Aeros for decades, building and flying model airplanes of all shapes and sizes, including a giant scale B-29. In the late eighties Ed also became a volunteer docent at the Ross Park Zoo, and served the community for decades, taking Zoo Mobiles into schools, continuing his passion for education by teaching kids about various species of reptiles, mammals and birds. Ed also continued to pursue his love of photography his whole life. He had a darkroom for years, transitioned to the digital age with ease, winning awards and working for local newspapers. Unfortunately, he chose Canon instead of Nikon, leaving his son Brad confused and bewildered for years.

Later in life Ed was an active traveler, visiting Alaska in 2006, flying to England in 2012 on a Pipe Organ tour, other trips around the country, and train trips to Colorado to visit family. He visited Hawaii in 2020, and Alaska again in 2021 at age 90, the lifelong lover of trains enjoying a double decker passenger train tour through the Rocky Mountains.

Ed said goodbye to Esther, his wife, his children Sydnye, Bradley, Jessica, and Rebecca; their grandchildren Rives and Elizabeth, Calvin, Chantal, Miranda, Sophie, Samantha, Danielle, Quentin and Lauryntina; and their great-grandchildren Rosalia, Kimberly, Isabelle, Gatlan and Zelda.

Ed lived life with purpose and direction. He never hesitated to help someone in need. His faith was strong, and his spirit was energetic and driven, yet gentle and loving. He practiced what he preached, and he reached many people through his kindness and his service. We know he will be missed by many, and will remain in our hearts forever.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 am, Saturday, November 12, 2022 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,305 Murray Hill Road, Vestal. Family will receive friends at the church from 9:30 am until the time of services. To forward condolences and to view the a full obituary please visit www.demunn.com . In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the Binghamton Township Historical Society or The Binghamton Theater Organ Society would be much appreciated. Arrangements for the family are directed by the DeMunn Funeral Home.

The Funeral will be Zoomed by the Church for those unable to attend. The link is here: Binghamton Ward is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Ed Pettengill Funeral Time: Nov 12, 2022 11:00 AM Eastern Time(US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/93890009045?pwd=clYxZW50cUEwb0laVXBWdmRHaUhMUT09 Meeting ID: 938 9000 9045 Passcode: 516721