Edward J. Nowiak Jr.

Edward Nowiak Jr Obituary

June 22nd, 1970 - August 27, 2025

Edward lost his battle at the young age of 55, to an aggressive, fast spreading cancer. His loving daughter by his side every step of the way, holding his hand tight in his final moments.

Born and primarily raised in Schenectady on Elliot Avenue, Edward, known as Ed, Eddie or Jr., was a classic 70s-80s child growing up in Woodlawn with his siblings. Spending lots of time outside as he would say "running the streets'' and making friends with other neighborhood kids that would turn into friendships that would last a lifetime.

Ed, at a young age became obsessed with hunting, specifically bow hunting. Ed liked bow hunting best because he believed it required more skill and precision, because you have to get much closer to the animal. In the beginning, Ed was always on the pursuit of the big buck with the big rack, he became very successful with that pursuit. As Ed matured in life, he stated he no longer needed to kill anything to find enjoyment in the woods, he instead, enjoyed the crisp cool air of fall mornings and got just as much satisfaction from the sight of a mother deer feeding her young.

Ed’s father, Ed Sr., owned a tattoo shop called SouthPaw, where Ed learned the family trade. Ed was known all over Schenectady as Tattoo Eddie and has inked his fair share of the locals from all walks of life. In the early 2000s, Ed moved to Stillwater, Minnesota for a job opportunity to tattoo in a shop of his Dad’s previous partner called: “Tats by Zap”. There Ed shined, people were drawn to him. Whether it was his NY flair or his ability to connect with clients from all walks of life, that ability to connect with the clients kept the phones ringing for Ed long after he retired. While in Minnesota, Ed mentored several inspiring young artists, one who said "Ed taught me to tattoo, but he taught me even more about life ."

Ed was a natural teacher, whether it was teaching his friends early on how to bow hunt, teaching a new artist how to lay on a clean tattoo or giving life advice from his past experiences and past mistakes.

Mistakes, Ed made a few. Ed's intentions were always good but at times would manifest with a negative outcome. Ed paid for those mistakes immensely at times. Later in life Ed had a deeper understanding about life and what was important and would say "the cup was half full" always trying to see the bright side of things. Ed was never one to pass judgment, he could look past the faults and see the good in people.

Ed was a genuine man who wore his feelings on his sleeve, if he was feeling love he was a sap, anger he would bark, anxious he would pace. Ed was a natural worrier and would analyze every situation to the fullest.

Ed was also a jokester and loved to pull pranks, sometimes even taking it too far. Even in Ed's final days he approached the situation with comedy and laughter.

Ed was a handsome man, who even in the hospital had a head of hair that young men envied. Romantically, Ed only loved two women. Ed was married twice, and although both ended with divorce, for Ed the love always remained.

Later in life, Ed’s focus was his family. He was extremely close to his dad, who unfortunately passed away in January 2025, and his daughter Brittany and her children. Ed’s daughter and his “grandbabies” were Ed’s whole life as he would often tell them.

Ed never took "regular" life for granted. Whether it was at the park with his grandbabies, enjoying a clam fry with his daughter, ordering take out with his brothers, talking on the phone with his sister, or watching Gun Smoke with his dad, Ed would say, "These are precious moments!".

Ed would say he, ''Loved big!'', and would give the shirt off his back or his last dollar to the ones he loved if they needed it. Ed never held grudges and always was the first to say he was sorry and admit when he was wrong. Ed was never afraid to tell the ones he loved that he loved them, always stressing that he wanted to be sure that there would be no question of his love.

All in all Ed was a simple man who was pretty much up for anything as long as you stopped for coffee first.

Predeceased by his parents Patricia Massaro Nowiak and Edward Nowiak, his sister Trisha Nowiak and his sister-in-law Tracy Nowiak. Edward's legacy continues through his loving family. He is survived by his daughter Brittany Coyne Nowiak (Brian), his grandchildren: Paisley and Peyton Coyne; his siblings: John, Jimmy, and Jake Nowiak; his nephew and nieces and their children: Jessica, Michael (Sierra), Alexandria Nowiak, Johnny Bacon, and Lainey Nowiak; along with other extended family members and lots of friends.

A Celebration of Life will be Monday September 15, 2025 at 12 noon at Bond Funeral Home 1614 Guilderland Avenue Schenectady. Vistation will be from 11-12 prior.

In lieu of flowers please donate to the Leukemia Foundation, a Foundation that Ed held close to his heart, as this awful disease took his mother from him when he was just a boy.