Edward Norton “Hatch” “Ed” Hathaway II was the eldest of four and the only son of Colonel Edward Norton and Ada Belle (Skladany) Hathaway. Ed spent his early growth years living with his mother’s parents in the heartland of America, Beatrice, NE, as his father was away during World War II. Ed’s father was a very demanding person, and Ed credits his mother with being the protective shield for him and later his sisters.
Being an Army brat, Ed and his family moved numerous times while growing up, but, as luck would have it, Ed spent his last three high school years in Naples, Italy within sight of Mount Vesuvius and the Isle of Capri and near the Pompeii ruins and the amazing Amalfi coastline. Most of his friends’ parents were Navy folks and, barring the strong influence of his father, Ed would have probably accepted an appointment to Annapolis, but luckily for the Class of 1966 West Point won out. Their loss was our gain.
I first met Ed during plebe year. In addition to closeness in age (Ed was nine days older than me), we were in the same Fourth Class tactics class. Even with all the stress upon us as plebes, Ed’s personality was one of joy and happiness. If you had met his mother, a remarkable lady, there was no doubt about the source of Ed’s personality. West Point creates a brotherhood of shared experiences. Even though many years may have passed since you last saw a classmate, in a few minutes of conversation it is as if you just saw one another the day before. That was how it was with Ed. It was easy to like him.
Academics were never a challenge for Ed. His younger sister Judy recalled how he was president of the Student Council and tops in his studies. Not an easy act to follow for a younger sibling. Fellow classmate Kelly Horst told of the time he and Ed were joking around in mechanics class and were ejected from class by then Major Norman Schwarzkopf before he became “Stormin’ Norman” of Desert Storm fame. Not sure of what to do, Ed said let’s go back to the barracks and finish our hearts game. Like I said, academics were never a challenge.
Ed could have chosen any branch with his class standing, but when on our First Class trip Ed had a blind date for the “Welcome to Fort Benning Hop.” He was invited to spend the weekend with her and her father, who brewed his own German beer. Ed fell in love with Fort Benning, GA and German beer, so, when branch picking came around, Ed chose Infantry and Mainz, Germany as his first assignment. About six months before his death, Ed was in Newport News, VA for a visit, and he and Kelly had a three-hour lunch reliving old memories. Ed was still talking about German beer and his days in the Infantry.
After Germany and several other tours, including two in Vietnam, Ed was assigned to Project MASSTER at Fort Hood, TX, the beginning of his research and development career. Subsequently, he attended the University of Arizona in Tucson, where he earned master’s degrees in mechanical and aeronautical engineering. While there Ed fell in love with the area and dreamed of retiring there.
After schooling, Ed served with the Army Aviation Technology Directorate at Fort Eustis, VA. Leaving R&D for a short period, Ed spent a year as operations officer with the 2nd Infantry Division in Korea. After Korea, Ed spent the next three years with the Pentagon, Office of Research, Development and Acquisition. He also added an MBA to his educational pursuits. The next R&D assignment was with the USAF Ballistic Missile Office and Space Division in California, working on the Strategic Defense Initiative of President Reagan. Ed retired from the Army in 1987 with a plethora of awards and medals, notably the CIB, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Parachutist Badge and the Ranger Tab.
After retirement, Ed began a series of jobs in the R&D industry, first with Aerojet Electro Systems in California and then later with Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. in Virginia. Ed left R&D for a short period to be an attractions service manager with Walt Disney Co. in Orlando, FL. The work was exploring new concepts in computer-controlled games and simulations. However, this Mickey didn’t turn out as was expected and he left Disney after three years to join Optimetrics Inc. in Ann Arbor, MI in 2000. Ed retired completely in 2012.
Ed married Janet Geary upon graduation. They had two children, Trey and Amy. Divorced, he married Vickie Massie while he was working in the Pentagon. They had a son, Christopher. Divorced, he met his wife Ruth Tozer (a lovely Canadian lady) while working for Optimetrics in Michigan. They met in 2003 and were married in 2005. Remembering his time at the University of Arizona, the southwest was beckoning, so in 2016 he moved to Tucson. Ed spent his final years doing mostly volunteer work, notably helping the elderly with their tax preparation.
Ed left us suddenly on August 28, 2019, suffering a massive heart attack. Ed was preceded in death by his mother and father. He is survived by his wife Ruth, sons Trey and Christopher and daughter Amy, stepsons Edward and David Blackman and stepdaughter Robbin Ryan, sisters Judy Strickland, Priscilla McGreevy and Jennifer Jackson, grandchildren Gray, Alexander, Ashton, Ada, Amelia, Carson, and Abigail, plus numerus nieces and nephews.
Farewell Hatch and congratulations on a life well lived.
— Brad Hartley, classmate