Edward J. Handler III of Darien, formerly of Short Hills, NJ, passed away peacefully in his family home at the age of 81.
Edward Handler III, 81, passed away on July 5. His wake will be from 4 to 6 p.m., Sunday, and his funeral at 10:30 a.m., Monday.
Mr. Handler was born on April 20, 1937. He was raised in Parkchester, the Bronx and attended Xavier High School in Manhattan and Braden’s Preparatory School in Cornwall, NY. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in the Class of 1960.
Mr. Handler earned a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1964. He was named among the World’s Leading Patent Lawyers in 2003 and the World’s Leading Trademark Lawyers in 2004, having taken a lead role on numerous significant technology and pharmaceutical intellectual property cases over many years.
While a partner at the law firm of Kenyon & Kenyon he served over time on all of the firm’s major governing and operating committees. Subsequent to his career at Kenyon & Kenyon, he served as president and COO of Storm Bio, a developmental stage biotech company working on a therapeutic reagent for pandemic influenza and attendant cytokine storms. He then founded The Bronx Project, Inc., a pharmaceutical company working to develop small molecule C3.
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— an obituary from Edward Lawrence Funeral Home
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Mr. Handler served as an elected member of the Board of Directors of The Association of Graduates, USMA and has been president of The West Point Society of New York. He was a member of the Board of Governors at The Union League Club of New York and a member of the Sono-Tek Corporation Board of Directors.
In the 1970s he was an elected official of Millburn-Short Hills, NJ, serving as a councilman and police commissioner. In the early 1990s he served as an elected member of the Darien Representative Town Meeting.
Mr. Handler is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 53 years, Jane Handler (Simons); his son, retired Lt. Col. (USMC Ret.) Edward J. Handler IV, husband of Stefanie Handler of Virginia Beach, VA; his daughter, Charity Lefferts, wife of David Lefferts of New Canaan; his daughter, Louise Laudano, wife of Paul Laudano of Wellesley, MA; his four grandchildren: Lucia, Caitlin, Henry and Emmie; and sisters: Mary-Jane Stanton and Susan Sohni.
A devoted friend and mentor, Ed was known for his intellect, keen wit and his ability to engage just about anyone long enough to make a meaningful connection and put a smile on their faces.
Friends may call from 4 to 6 p.m., Sunday, July 8 at the Edward Lawrence Funeral Home, 2119 Boston Post Rd, Darien.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, July 9 at Saint John Roman Catholic Church, 1986 Boston Post Rd, Darien, with a reception afterward at the family home.