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Edward Cosmo Matranga, 96, of Huntsville, passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 2, 2021, at the Arkansas State Veterans Home in Fayetteville, AR. He was born on August 15, 1925 on Arthur Avenue, Bronx's "Little Italy", in New York, to Frank and Vittoria (Pace) Matranga. Spending his childhood years between Palermo, Sicily and New York City, Ed became bilingual and proud of his Italian-American heritage. Following immigration trends during the Depression, Ed's family moved from NY to CA. After graduating with honors from Burbank High, Edward proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II, stationed in Japan and Hawaii. He received 4 medals: the WW II Victory Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and The American Campaign Medal. In 1951, Ed enlisted in the United States Merchant Marines, increasing his fascination with languages and travel, completing tours of duty in the Caribbean, Europe, Japan, Korea, North Africa, and Panama. Ed received the G.I. Bill benefits allowing him to pursue his passions and dream of receiving a higher education degree. In 1956, Ed was awarded a B.A. in Languages and Literature from UCLA, while employed as Business Manager for the Cooperative Housing Association of UCLA. In the summer of 1956, Ed met the love of his life, Irma C. Cianfrano, at the Italian Language School at Middlebury College. On July 5, 1958, Ed and Irma were married at St. Margaret's Shrine in Bridgeport, CT and moved to Westwood, CA. From 1956-59, Ed utilized his interpersonal, writing, and sales skills as Supervisor of Consumer and Customer Relations for Revell, Inc., a toy company in Venice, CA. In 1961, Ed earned an M.A. in Adult and Comparative Education from UCLA, awarded study grants to Colombia, South American, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and The University of Arizona at Guadalajara, Mexico, completing NDEA (National Defense Education Act) Summer Institutes for Experienced Teachers of Spanish. After teaching Spanish and Special Education in Palo Alto, CA, Ed was selected as Department Head and Teacher of Spanish and World History for the San Lorenzo Schools and taught English and Spanish to Speakers of Other Languages in the Adult Evening School in San Jose. In 1967, Ed received a Sixth Year Certificate in Instructional Technology, Linguistics, and Supervision and Administration from Chapman College. In 1967, Ed, Irma, and their four children moved to CT, where Ed served as Supervisor of Foreign Languages for the Stratford and Wethersfield Public Schools and taught adult evening classes in Bridgeport. One of Ed's favorite activities was taking on the open road, exploring new places with little planning, either alone or with passengers. Each summer, the family would pack into the station wagon and drive to new destinations, rarely with a hotel reservation. A seeker of knowledge, in 1981, Ed completed his Ph.D. in Curriculum and Supervision at the University of Connecticut. From 1979-85, Dr. Matranga served as Professor of ESL at Garyounis University in Benghazi, Libya and King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. From 1985-89, Dr. Matranga taught Spanish at St. Regis Falls, NY, Wilton High School, CT, and Sleepy Hollow High in North Tarrytown, NY. After retiring, Ed did not slow down. He was a substitute teacher for Spanish, Italian, and ESL, and also pursued a 2nd career in real estate, managing properties in CT, NY, and AR. Ed enjoyed attending the theatre, dancing and listening to swing and big band music, watching TCM movies, going to yard sales, and creating ideas for a book, "The French You Already Know." Skeptical of conventional medical practices, Ed's philosophy was, "Doctor, Heal Thyself", and he took daily air baths, ate fresh fruits, and had a lifelong love affair with figs, lentil soup, boiled eggs, and chicken broth. Mi casa es su casa (My house is your house) was Ed's motto. With a cheerful smile, warm handshake or hug, Ed's great pleasure was entertaining at his home, offering an aperitif, cooking Italian meals, presenting new culinary dishes, hosting monthly poker nights, housing foreign exchange students, and playing cards with family and friends. Ed's proudest achievement was marrying his wife, Irma, who supported him unconditionally during their 56 years of marriage. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Irma, his daughter, Melissa, and four brothers, Joseph, Ray, Victor, and Romeo. He is survived by his sister, Julie Sisneros , sisters-in-law, Rose Matranga and Juanita Matranga, three children, Marcial Matranga of Huntsville, Kristina Howlett and husband, Scott, of Hindsville, and Cian-Carlos Matranga of Fayetteville, plus his goddaughter, Monica Ehmke of Monroe, CT, and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Dr. Edward Matranga's interment will be held at St. Michael's Cemetery in Stratford, CT. To honor Ed's life, donations can be made to Middlebury's Italian Language School and mailed to Gift Administration, Middlebury College, 700 Exchange St., Middlebury, VT 05753. Online gifts can be made at https://engage.middlebury.edu/givelanguageschools Services are entrusted to Brashears Funeral Home and Crematory, Huntsville.

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Edward Matranga

August 15, 1925 - September 2, 2021