Edward Chwalek

Edward Joseph Chwalek, 80, of Hopkinton passed away peacefully on Sept. 3, 2026, surrounded by family. Ed was the husband of Marcia, and together they recently celebrated 58 years of marriage. He was born in Ludlow on March 30, 1946, the son of the late Edward Joseph Chwalek and Emily Madry Chwalek.

Ed attended Cathedral High School and graduated from Saint Anselm College, where he played hockey and formed friendships that lasted a lifetime. Ed and Marcia met on St. Patrick’s Day in 1963 at Howard Johnson’s in Ludlow. She, an outgoing dark-haired teenager working as a waitress; he, a quiet, blue-eyed blond working as a cook. Though both had grown up in Ludlow, it took a chance encounter at “HoJo’s” to bring them together. From that night on, Marcia was the love of Ed’s life, and he was so proud of the family they built together.

Ed spent his career in the computer technology industry, a field he genuinely enjoyed. After beginning as a young man at Spaulding, he spent many years at Digital Equipment Corporation, working in procurement and business operations. An opportunity to move west took the family in 1976 to Colorado Springs, where he helped open a new facility, followed by a move back to Stow in 1979 to settle down and raise their children near their large extended families. In 1995, Colorado called again, and it was perfect timing for another adventure. Ed and Marcia both took on new jobs before eventually moving back home to be closer to their kids and be part of the lives of their grandchildren: Jake, Alex, Ben and Annie.

Before retiring, Ed also held executive positions at Maxtor in Longmont, Colorado, and Stratus Technologies in Maynard. He was known for his dedication, integrity and easygoing, steady demeanor.

Together, Ed and Marcia built a life filled with family, friends and travel. His lifelong passion for fly fishing and their shared love for golf took them all over the world. He loved to plan their trips, always booking local inns and getting to know the people and culture. Fly fishing frequently took him to his favorite stretches of the Swift River and Farmington River with “the guys.” They also fished rivers in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Utah and California, often joined by his younger brother, John. He and Marcia traveled to New Zealand for his last big fishing trip. Colorado always held a special place in their hearts. Fittingly, it was the site of his last trip in April.

He was, above all, a devoted father and grandfather. Ed spent countless hours on fields and in rinks watching his kids’ and grandkids’ games and practices. Patiently teaching them the sports he loved — golf, fishing, skiing and boating — brought him incredible joy. He loved sharing his seemingly endless golf tips, but they would somehow never produce a swing as smooth as his. Ed was a longtime member of Marlborough Country Club, where he enjoyed golfing with friends, and loved his annual drive with Marcia to Naples, Florida, where they played golf together in February.

Those who knew Ed remember his dry sense of humor and his gift for telling a story, and he always made sure everyone was listening. He was a calm, steady force for his family, a great listener who always asked questions before offering advice. If he had an opinion about something, it would usually show up with a raised eyebrow or a well-placed comment. Ed enjoyed cooking for Marcia, friends and family, and his grandchildren especially loved his apple pies. He loved music of every kind, from country-western to opera, but most of all, he loved simply listening to Marcia play classical music on the piano.

Besides his loving wife, Marcia, he will be missed by his children, whom he adored: daughter Pam Poor and husband John of Holliston, and son Rob Chwalek and wife Annis of Sudbury; and his grandchildren, Jake and Alex Poor, and Ben and Annie Chwalek. He loved them deeply and was so proud of them all.

Ed was predeceased by his brother, John, with whom he shared many adventures over the years. He is survived by his older sisters, Dorothy Boucher of Easton, Pennsylvania, and Adele Chwalek of Westborough, who lived nearby and enjoyed frequent visits with him; his sister-in-law, Maryann Chwalek, of La Honda, California; Marcia’s brothers and sisters and their families; and many nieces and nephews. Ed was grateful for the love and support of his family and many friends, near and far, throughout his illness.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, Nov. 21, from noon-3 p.m. at Marlborough Country Club in Marlborough. A brief remembrance will begin at 1 p.m. All are welcome to attend and share in celebrating his life.

In lieu of flowers, a donation in Ed’s name to a cause close to your heart would be a lovely way to honor his memory.

Obituaries are submissions, typically from funeral homes, that are not subject to the same level of editorial oversight as the rest of the Hopkinton Independent. Obituaries may be edited for grammatical and factual mistakes and clarifications and shortened for space considerations.