Edward Martin Pietras, 94, of Annapolis, MD, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at his home at Sunrise Bay Village on February 4, 2026. Born to his parents Martin and Mary Pietras on Christmas Day 12/25/1931 in Chicopee, Massachusetts, Ed grew up in Western Massachusetts and attended Chicopee High School. He liked to say he was most influenced by the school of hard knocks and the Catholic Church. Ed enlisted in the US Army at the age of 18 and was a Veteran of the Korean war where he served in the Signal Corps. While stationed in Japan, he took up baseball and had aspirations of turning semi-pro when he returned from the war. Instead, Ed enrolled via the GI Bill in the University of Massachusetts at Amherst where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering. He was the first college graduate in his family.

Ed married the love of his life, Alice Jasienowski, and had two sons, Eric and Mark. After a few years of living and working close to his family in West Springfield, Massachusetts, he began to climb the corporate ladder and moved to Mahwah, New Jersey where he worked for Scientific Atlanta. Ed lived in New Jersey for six years before accepting a promotion and relocating to Ulmstead Estates in Arnold, Maryland where he raised his family. Ulmstead proved to be his happy place where he made many lifelong friends. Ed was an avid pool player, founding, playing in, and often winning the Ulmstead Pool men’s group which met every Monday night for 35+ years. He also helped start the Greater Arnold Recreation Council Incorporated (GARCI) to keep his two sons active and out of Alice's hair. Ed believed in physical fitness and staying healthy; he enjoyed skiing, golf, lifting weights, walking and hiking. His walking and exercise regimen continued into his early 90’s, setting an example for all.

Ed excelled at his work at Scientific Atlanta by helping sell and install some of the first cable TV installations in the United States. He later moved to the broadcast side of cable TV where he sold the telecommunication components needed to launch and broadcast ESPN, CNN, Mother Angelica’s Eternal World Television Network, and many other channels.

Ed and Alice belonged to a private travel club called the Shillelagh’s and traveled all over the world. This club also allowed for many memorable family trips. One of Ed's favorite trips was to South America where he and Alice traveled by boat from Chile to the South Pole. He marveled at the opportunity to walk on a glacier and sip 15-year-old Bourbon on 1 million-year-old ice.

Ed was a kind, positive, humble, and compassionate soul who loved his family and connecting with people. He enjoyed meeting new people and gave the best advice even when not asked. If presented with someone else’s challenge or life problem, he would often sleep on it for days and get back to the person with some sort of solution. His worries, concerns and prayers were typically for others rather than for himself.

Ed is survived by his children, Eric of Annapolis, MD, and Mark (Elizabeth) of Scarborough, ME; four grandchildren, Evan Pietras (Jenny) of Chevy Chase, MD, Avery Primavera (Matthew) of Chestnut Hill, PA, James (Jake) Pietras of Annapolis, MD, Austin Pietras of Scarborough, ME; and two great grandchildren, Casey and Palmer. Ed loved his family unconditionally, especially his grandchildren who affectionately referred to him as the Zen Master for all of his guidance and wisdom.

He is predeceased by his parents, Martin and Mary Pietras, his sister, Genevieve Banas, and his loving wife, Alice Pietras.

Ed made friends wherever he was and will be greatly missed by his family and the many friends he made along his life's journey. The world is a better place because of people like Ed.

Ed’s family would like to express our gratitude for the dedicated care staff and leadership at Sunrise Bay Village, especially in his final months. We would also like to thank our dear family friend and nurse, Kathleen Kelly, who helped us with Ed tremendously in his later years as a part time caregiver, medical advocate and, most importantly, as a true friend.

In lieu of flowers, please do something nice for another person and think of Ed.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated on Friday May 1, 2026 at 11:00am at St. Andrew by the Bay Catholic Church 701 College Pkwy, Annapolis, MD 21409.  Inurnment will be held with honors on May 1, 2026 at 2:30pm at MD Veterans Cemetery 1122 Sunrise Beach Rd Crownsville, MD 21032.