Obit: Charles Edwin (Ed) Satterlee

Dec 17, 1921 - Jan 31, 2013

Ed Satterlee, a resident of North Port, Fla., and formerly of Grand Island, passed away after a brief illness.

Ed was born and raised in Elmira. He joined the Air Force in World War II and worked in photographic darkrooms in and around the South Pacific. After the war, he married Irene Wood and used the GI Bill to enroll at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, graduating with a degree in aeronautical engineering.

He took a job in Texas with Convair and after several years decided to move closer to home. Ed then worked at Bell Aerospace in Niagara Falls for the next 30 years. While there, he worked as an engineer on many experimental planes and served on the engineering team that developed the Bell rocket belt (remember James Bond in the movie "Thunderball"?).

He was an avid sailor and photographer and was a founding member of The Great Lawn Mower Race on Grand Island. After retirement, he and Irene traveled the country in their motor home, seeing the sights and visiting family.

Ed was predeceased by his wife, Irene, son Charles and stepson Robert Stone. He is survived by his loving wife Sibyl; daughters Rita (James) Rosensteele of Carmel, Ind., and Jill Satterlee of Johns Creek, Ga.; sons Richard (Maura) Satterlee of Cincinnati, and Thomas Satterlee of Grand Island; stepdaughters Sibyl (Warren) Hoover, Linda (Ted) Petrone, Betty Lee and Valerie Richter; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Donations can be made to: Hospice Buffalo, 225 Como Park Blvd., Buffalo, NY, 14227-1480.