Edmund Peter Breitling, Sr, of Newtown, Conn., died unexpectedly from a stroke on Saturday, February 27. He was 65 years old.

Ed met the love of his life, Elaine, in 1975 after an armed robbery at the Hardee’s in Brookfield. Ed was one of the investigating officers, and his partner bet him $10 that he wouldn’t ask out the beautiful assistant manager. Elaine identified the perp and the crime was solved, but the debt from this infamous bet remains unsettled.

While Ed was known for his contagious sense of humor and sharp intellect, it was his endless capacity to care for others that endeared him to so many. Ed deeply believed in community service and civic duty. He served as a Brookfield police officer and as the Director of Security for Danbury Hospital. Before retiring, he owned a shooting range and sportsman’s store in New Milford. He also spent many years serving as a voting machine mechanic in Newtown.

Ed’s greatest calling was to serve as Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 70 for more than 20 years. He loved the hundreds of scouts that called his troop home. Nothing made his eyes light up more than bragging about new scouts growing into Eagle Scouts. Also, he never missed an opportunity to mention beating his dear friends in Troop 48 at a Klondike Derby or in the Water Carnival at Camp Russell.

Ed cherished his family, shooting sports, cast iron pans, and bacon – probably in that order. He was known for his ability to read entire books in one day and was witnessed politely correcting tour guides at Gettysburg, George Washington’s Mount Vernon, and other “exciting” battlefields he thought were fun family vacation destinations. A lifelong learner, Ed was an active student enrolled at Western Connecticut State University.

Ed is survived by his wife, Elaine, and their three children, Elisabeth Maurer and her husband Rodney, Edmund, Jr, and his partner Jordan Liker, and Ethan and his husband Ryan King; his sister Ingrid Wimmer and her husband Robert; many nieces and nephews, including Jessica, Matthew, Adam, Meredith, Daniel, Ralph, Jaclyn, Francesca, Nicole, Jennifer, and Kelly; and hundreds of Scouts who called him Scoutmaster.

He is predeceased by his mother and stepfather, Margaret and Arthur “Bud” Drapeau, and his father, Joseph Breitling.

While Ed insisted — on more than one occasion — that he wanted a “Viking funeral,” where he and all of his possessions would be “set on fire while floating in Taunton Lake,” family and friends will celebrate his life at a Christian burial on March 6 at 2 pm at Trinity Episcopal Church. A virtual memorial service will be held on March 7 at 4 pm. Contact ethan.breitling@gmail.com for details.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Boy Scouts of America Troop 70 or the Cullens Youth Association through PayPal at paypal@BSATroop70.org. The greatest way to honor Ed is to follow his example — volunteer to help youth in your community.