Edward J. Cotilla, Jr., 88 of Vero Beach, FL passed away peacefully on August 31, 2025.

He was the son of Edward J. Cotilla and Mary Smith.

Edward is survived by his three children: Mary Jo Cotilla (Marty), Lori Ann Brunetti, Edward J Cotilla, III (Lisa), 11 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, sister Diane Walker (Scott), and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 39 years, Linda Cotilla (Sekula), sister and brother-in-law Barbara and William Silvestri, brother and sister-in-law Larry and Betty Cotilla, and his beloved son, Timothy.

He was a proud graduate of Drexel University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. After graduating, he worked for the United States Department of Defense, remaining at the Naval Air Development Center, until being honorably retired as a civilian employee in 1992.
While at NADC, he received four patents for his design contributions to sonar devices used on submarines during the Cold War as well as numerous meritorious awards.

Edward was an active member of his community. He won the 2003 Senior Volunteer of the Year Award for his work explaining the insurance industry to seniors and received the President’s Volunteer Award for dedicating 4,000 hours of service to others.

He was an avid reader and had many hobbies such as photography, hiking, skiing, woodworking, model train sets, chess, Gin Rummy, and Bridge.

One of Edward’s favorite activities was completing crossword puzzles. He continued working on the Wall Street Journal puzzle each day up until the end of his life.

He loved animals of all kinds, especially his dogs Rascal, Buddy, and Paige.

Edward was adventurous and travelled all over the world. His favorite trip was rafting down the Colorado River and camping out under the stars.

He also enjoyed spending long summer days on the beach with his family. He could be counted on to organize paddle ball tournaments, create horseshoe teams, challenge someone to a game of backgammon, or to invite the kids to go body surfing with him or take a long walk along the water.

Edward had many passions in his life, but playing tennis was the greatest of them all. He spent the better part of his life on the court, retiring his racquet only two short years ago.

Edward was a dedicated father. He placed an emphasis on the importance of education and the activities he planned with his children were usually centered around art and culture. Trips to the orchestra, the ballet, museums, and the theater allowed for a well-rounded and memorable childhood.

His zest for life led to a curiosity about things, which he enjoyed sharing with his children. Excursions to Crystal Caves, Longwood Gardens, the mansions of Rhode Island, and professional sporting events, including seeing Olga Korbut perform live and meeting Roman Gabriel in person, just to name a few.

His spirit of adventure and his interest in planning exciting activities continued with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, resulting in memories that will last a lifetime.

Edward will be remembered most as a dignified gentleman who remained humble, despite having accomplished much worth mentioning.

He has left an indelible imprint on all of our lives and we will forever hold him tenderly in our hearts.