Edward Franz

It is with great sadness that the Franz family announces the passing of husband and father Edward, after his courageous battle with lung cancer. He made his transition at the age of 65 on August 11, 2022 at his home in Cranford with his loving family by his side. 

Eddie was born on October 25, 1956. He grew up in Roselle, NJ where he met his loving and devoted wife of 35 years, Kim. Eddie and Kim raised their first born in Roselle and moved to Cranford after the birth of their second child. 

Eddie spent his career teaching and coaching in a number of schools including Spotswood, Piscataway, and Whippany Park high schools. While Eddie made a significant impact on the students and colleagues from each of these districts, his biggest and most long-lasting influence was at Morristown Beard School. Throughout his 39 years at MBS, Eddie served as a teacher of history and constitutional law, as well as the boys varsity basketball coach and the school's guidance and crisis management director. He also coached boys varsity tennis from 1983-1999 and again from 2011-2014, earning over 200 wins. 

Eddie left a remarkable legacy as MoBeard's boys varsity basketball coach. In 2008 he was inducted into the Morristown Beard School Athletic Hall of Fame, and in 2013 he received the honor of also being inducted into the New Jersey State Coaches Hall of Fame. During his time as the team's head coach, he surpassed 400 wins. Due to the progression of his illness, Eddie regretfully retired from this position in 2021--only a year before his passing.

Along with his work at MBS, Eddie spent his summers as the director of Life Camp for approximately 34 years. LifeCamp is a day camp in Pottersville NJ, whose mission is to provide academic enrichment, artistic expression and athletic opportunities in a safe outdoor space for Newark students. Eddie also taught a class called “values,” where campers could discuss and work through the pressures of growing up as a teen in an urban environment. Eddie left his mark in each and every position he filled throughout his career in education and athletics. 

Eddie was predeceased by his parents Louis and Barbara Franz, and is survived by his wife Kim, his children Travis and Kathryn, his son in law Zachary, and his brother Richard and wife Peggy. He also leaves behind cousins and numerous life-long friends, all of whom he considered family.

Visitation will be held on Sunday August 21st from 2 to 8 PM.  A mass will be held to celebrate his memory on Monday August 22nd at 11:00 AM at The Church of St. Joseph the Carpenter, 157 East 4th Ave Roselle, NJ. 

To best honor Eddie’s memory, in lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations may be made to LifeCamp—where Eddie committed so much of his time and energy:

http://greaternewarklifecamp.org/support/