Edmund E. Colan

Edmund E. Colan

Edmund E. Colan, Electronic Engineer, WW II Veteran, of Grand Island Entered into rest on January 10, 2026 he was 98. Survivors include his wife of 66 years Sylvia (nee Palangio), two sons Edmund A. (Ellen) and Vincent (Sarah) and grandchildren Ashley (Paul), Nick, Rachel, Cameron and Ryann all of Grand Island. He was predeceased by his daughter Cynthia (survived by husband Emmanuel) Mackrides and a grandson Michael. Friends may call Thursday 5-8 PM at the Kaiser Funeral Home 1950 Whitehaven Rd., Grand Island. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday at 10 AM at St. Stephen’s Church. Interment will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Lewiston. A native of Niagara Falls, he graduated from Niagara High School. He was the son of Italian immigrant parents. He earned a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Buffalo in 1953. He also did graduate studies towards a masters degree in electrical engineering at the university of Buffalo. After working at Bell Aerospace Corp. in 1953 on the RASCAL air-to-ground missile program, Ed joined Sylvania Electronic Systems Corp. in buffalo in 1954 where he was employed as a design and project engineer for over 19 years. At Sylvania, he performed circuitry design and development of numerous military electronic equipments and systems. These included the high speed communications system for the Polaris ballistic missile submarines; the radio launch command system for the Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missiles; countermeasures electronics used on the B-58 Hustler, our countries first supersonic bomber; the data multiplexer set for a U. S. Airforce countermeasures system deployed at various overseas sites; and a Navy high security spread spectrum communications system. During the 1960s Ed performed circuitry design for Army portable Manpack radios; the Cayuse light observation helicopter radios; and electronic anti-personnel mines, all used during the Vietnam War. After Sylvania Electronic Systems closed their operations in Buffalo, he joined Sierra Research Corp. in 1972 where he worked until 1991. At Sierra Research, Ed performed designs for equipment used in the Grumman E2-C Hawkeye AWACS (airborne early warning and control) system deployed on all U.S. aircraft carriers, and the datalink for the LAMPS MARK III anti-submarine warfare system, currently the Navys first line of defense against submarine attack and installed on over 100 ships and 250 helicopters. He also authored several articles published in technical journals. Ed was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II serving as a radar technician. He also served in the U. S. Marine Corps during the Korean war as an aircraft mechanic. As an amateur athlete, Ed played on many area baseball and hockey teams. These included baseball teams in the Western New York league and Niagara Falls Double-Eye league; hockey teams in Canadian leagues, the Buffalo Municipal and Frontier leagues, and for the University of Buffalo. Ed also coached little league baseball and minor hockey league teams for a number of years.