Condolences

My families Thoughts and Prayers with Coach Don Edicks family and friends. Coach Edick inspired many to achieve their goals and he instilled in students and athletes that building a strong base is the key to success in life ... He was a man who taught Results not Excuses will lead you in a positive direction. Coach Don Edick knew my big family and my parents who always liked his attitude with educating the students ... especially with me as he supported my Military Career with US ARMY clearances for me to be part of Assault Helicopter team .. and helped me achieve goals from his do not quit attitude he instilled in many students ... Coach Edick a Marine veteran who served our country then our community when I was growing up and all I can say to the family is this: No one does anything alone. You can help friends and family get through life's big and small obstacles, and they will do the same for you. Coach showed many of us this daily... US ARMY AIR CAVALRY Salute to my Brother MARINE Veteran, Coach Don Edick ... Gone but never forgotten... God Bless All Ren & Patsy Fitts

MY SYMPATHY TO ALL THE EDICK CHILDREN. YOUR DAD'S LEGACY WILL LIVE A LONG TIME IN NEW HARTFORD. I HAD OPPORTUNITY OF TEACHING AND COACHING ON HIS STAFF IN THE 70'S . LEARNED A LOT AS A YOUNG COACH AND HAD GREAT FUN. A LIFE WELL LIVED AND NOW MAY HE REST IN PEACE .

My deepest sympathies on the passing of your dad. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to compete against your dad both as a player at Proctor and later on as a coach. His teams were always well prepared to compete at the highest level. As a result it brought the best of our players in both our wins or loses. Later on it brought our staffs to respect one another and eventually as friends. Rest In Peace coach.

We have many wonderful memories of Audrey and Don at Lighthouse Towers in Florida. Every year your Mom would do a handstand in the pool for me - she was a special woman and we had a lot of laughs. Your Dad would sit on the grassy area, smoking his cigar, talking sports with passersby and critiquing your Mom’s handstands- what a sense of humour he had. My parents, Joan and Roy Brown enjoyed many potluck get togethers with your parents at the pool cabana and thought highly of Audrey and Don. They are missed but are reunited again and there is great comfort in that. With sympathy,

A great man. I am reminded of a Randy Travis lyric, “It’s not what you take when you leave this world behind you, it’s what you leave behind when you go.” Coach left his wisdom and influence on so many students and colleagues.

Thank you for giving so much to NHHS and all you were involved with.

My condolences to the Edick family. While Coach Edick was perhaps most known for his leadership and mentoring on the field, he was in many ways a coach to the entire neighborhood. His greeting when a friend entered the room was like being met with a warm hug and an entire marching band all in the same moment. In his classes, one could be moved from the ‘doing well’ to the ‘Clyde Beatty’ column (as he often called unruly students) in a matter of seconds - and then be moved right back as long as you accepted his wise direction and showed some humility. If you were caught with shaving cream or eggs on Halloween, he could give you a dressing down that your ancestors could feel and would then put you in the back of his car to ensure you got home safely. What made Coach most powerful was that he taught us (and continues to teach us) that ‘winning’ transcends what we one does on the field. He helped me understand that fundamental to any success are respect, class, character and always looking out for the next person no matter the situation. The most vulnerable were always under his watch first and no matter the differences among students, he ensured we always moved out together - as one. Thank you, Coach. Your lessons will echo in all those you taught.

Coach Edick was an amazing person who led a remarkable and accomplished life. Don was a devoted husband and a strong family patriarch as well as a pillar of the New Hartford school athletic program and its community. I was fortunate enough to work with Don and witnessed him at his best as a dedicated and successful coach. As a teacher and coach, coach Edick had that special quality of being able to touch the hearts and influence the character of so many young lives, in so many ways. Don had that special talent of getting the most out of his players which accounted for the great success he had as a football and baseball coach.
I am so grateful that I had the opportunity, and the honor to know him and also learn from. Don was my colleague, my mentor and my role model for 14 years while I was at New Hartford. The legacy of his radiant personality and his compassionate spirit will continue to live on in our hearts as well as the many former student athletes.
Don was a very special person who made a tremendous impact on those who had the fortune of knowing him.
Because of coach Edick, and who he was, THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE

Don Jr., Kevin and Doug-

My deepest sympathy on the passing of your dad. From being my 4th grade gym teacher to being my neighbor on Oxford Road and then working with him on school district business, I always held him in high regard. He will always be remembered for his contribution to athletics in New Hartford and for raising a wonderful family with your mom.

To the family of DONALD G EDICK,
So very sorry to hear of your great loss. RIP COACH
TRUE FRIEND,
PAUL Gigliotti

Dear Edick Family,
As the many memorable moments I was priviledged to witness during the life of your father and grandfather have been replaying in my mind, I am again reminded of how he wore even more titles than those very sacred ones above. I share a few of those remembrances with you below.
"Why are you acting like a knucklehead?" This was a common refrain coming from Coach as he guided many students through their high school years. The students listened to and respected "The Coach." The principals, staff and village police often called upon Coach to assist them at student and village events; to be their liason between youth and positions of authority. Coach, with strength and feeling, was a powerful yet gentle force. Many Octobers in a row, Coach would ride as "honorary deputy" in a village police car, acting as a community resource to help the kids keep on the straight and narrow.
As a friend, Coach's presence was special and joyous. He always appeared distinguished in his well tailored sport coat, vest sweaters and crisp dress shirts. We called him, "The Governor of North Dakota," after a group of students saw him exit a limo in Syracuse at Armory Square and asked us who he was. He replied he was the governor of North Dakota. He continued this dialogue telling the students what a great country we live in. We will all miss the Coach, the Governor and our very special friend.
Our family wishes to convey sincere sympathy to all of the Edicks on the passing of their father.

We first met in 1960. Much water has gone over the dam since then.
.We worked together for 28 years and there is none more loyal to all that is New Hartford than Don Erick. Rest in peace good friend.
George McInnis

I wanted to express my condolences to Coach Edick’s family. I was forever changed by my participation in the New Hartford’ football program in the early 90’s. Coach’s firey enthusiasm and high level of expectations taught me what it was like to not only push yourself but to have a winning mindset where, if you prepared your very best and trained as hard as you could, you should expect to win. Humble but confident. I learned what the words dedication, teamwork, and sacrifice really meant and I hold him in the highest regard.

I would not be the person or the leader that I am if not for his significant influence.

I am very sorry for your loss and also very sorry that I will be out of state for work during his services. I very much regret that I will not be able to pay my respects and offer my condolences in person.

My empathy to the Don Edick family.

Donald G. Edick was known as Mr. New Hartford. Before that, he was known as Mr. RFA. My memory of Dyna (his nickname at RFA) begins there in 1949. He was Mr. Everything. Even in high school he seemed bigger than life. Don was a throwback, one of a kind in today's world. I asked him once where he got the nickname Dyna. With that half sheepish-half proud smile he told me it was short for dynamite. That he was on the football gridiron.

His gruff exterior belied his deep concern for those who called him friend and the many students who called him Coach. In high school, I was that little sophomore who looked up to that all-everything senior. At New Hartford high school, I had the good fortune of working with him as his clock operator/statistician. His coaching staff of Bob Jones, Jerry Pitarresi and Ron Mattia became part of the mystique that was New Hartford football in the years of Don's tenure as head coach.