Edward A. Meister

EDWARD A. MEISTER, age 93; beloved husband of the late Mary Lou (nee Fasolino); loving Father of Cheryl Meister (Don Armstrong), Clifford Meister and Louise Vavrus (Don); devoted grandfather of Shauna Kearns (John) and Hallie Vavrus; great-grandfather of Aaron Kearns; brother of the late Harry Meister and Ruth Iarussi; uncle of David Meister and other nieces and nephews; World War II U.S. Navy Veteran.  Prayer service at the funeral home on Saturday, February 27, 2021 at 2:30 p.m.  Burial will take place privately.  Friends received at RIPEPI FUNERAL HOME, 5762 PEARL RD. (AT SNOW RD.), SATURDAY 2-4 P.M. Social distancing and masks required.

Tribute to my Dad

There aren’t many like Eddie Meister around anymore. Fortunately we can still reminisce and remember together, share our thoughts and look at pictures – even hear his music, see his stained glass creations, marvel at his big buck, and read all his memoirs. Dad did many various and sundry things over his lifetime. He began a love of nature early in life – fishing, swimming, boating, hunting, camping- he loved the outdoors and introduced me at a young age as well to camping and fishing. Most importantly for me, it was my father who took me up to Clague stables when I was 12 to take horseback riding lessons. “You are your father’s daughter” my Mom used to say. So be it. Like father, like daughter.

Edward Albert Meister was born on August 3rd, 1927 to Isabel (nee Haller) and Harry Meister on the lower west side of Cleveland. He was their 3rd and last child, having had Harry Jr. and Ruth before Dad. It was the depression years and life was hard for the family. At some point Dad was placed in the Jones Home for Children due to (in today’s vernacular) “food insecurity”. He used to tell the story about when Uncle Harry got a rifle and was able to hunt that their diets improved. Dad was fond of his brother and sister and maintained close bonds but especially with Harry, and then later with his nephew David. He also developed strong ties with his neighborhood buddies, and the four of them hung out together including wives until not so many years ago.

Dad attended Lincoln High School but WW2 was in full swing and he got Gramma to sign him into the Navy at 17 years old. He proudly served on the USS Lexington as a gunner’s mate at the end of the war. Then he went into the Naval Reserves up until he married Mom. Dad had a lot of careers after discharge from the Navy – did you know he was a

lumberjack on the west coast? When Mom and Dad were dating he worked for the electric company and she said she used to walk up to manholes and yell down “Eddie are you down there?” and sometimes he was!

Actually I always thought my Dad was pretty cool. He was a “man’s man”, strong and tough in my eyes – and protective. He always worked hard. Dad met Mom while he was a rink guard at the Rollercade and he was “smitten”. They married April 24th 1954. P.S. - Ed converted to Catholicism in order to marry Mary Lou, that’s the way it went in those days. 9 months and 1 day later I was born, followed by Cliff 22 months later. They first lived with my maternal grandparents (the Fasolino’s) then rented a house in Lakewood, and then bought the house on Winter Lane in 1960, and Louise was born in March.

Dad was working on the docks as a laborer but wanted his own business, so in the 1960’s Meister Antenna Service emerged and was successful for many years. He attempted to transition into TV sales and service but that didn’t work out so well. “By the grace of God” he got his electricians license and went to work for Ford Motor Company from which he eventually retired.

My father was a showman, a musician his whole life. Initially he played trumpet and was in “Chet Fields and his Orchestra” – a swing band- along with another old friend, Ed Hakos (who became his Best Man and my Godfather). In the 1970’s he got into playing harmonica- first along with my brother Cliff on lead and Dad on chord. Around 1975 Hugo was added with another big harmonica. They called themselves “The Tin Sandwich Harmonica Trio” and played gigs around town for many years together – and yes, folks, even a stint on “Polka Varieties”!

Later it became just Dad and Hugo “The Huff and Puffs “(Ha!) But when Hugo could play no more, Dad went solo as “Ed Meister and his Chord Harmonica – The Good Old Days” doing gigs up until maybe 2011. There is a CD of The Tin Sandwich – that’s 3 of the songs being played on the tribute video, with Peg O’ My Heart being played by the boys on harmonica. “Whispering “and “Deep Purple” on there were also faves.

Ed also: golfed, bowled, played pool, gardened, was a member of the Elks lodge, still boated, fished and hunted. Oh, and he enjoyed going to the casino on occasion and loved his lottos. He did stained glass lamps and hangings. He wrote “The Good Old Days: A Memoir” in 2008. Dad also wrote about his buck Ohio experience, and he was published in “The Little Book of Big Bucks”. He was amazing, after all- a life well lived.

Last but not least, my Dad loved his family. He loved my mother with a capital “L”. He celebrated every birthday, every holiday with us happily-smiling, hugging, smooching, singing his little ditties, reading his cards out loud with the utmost pathos, sharing a toast. Here’s to you, Big Ed – we all loved you, too, will miss you and never forget you. May you rest in peace.