Commander Edward P. Stafford, USN (Ret) was born in Portland Maine, July 16, 1918 to Edward Stafford, a Washington DC attorney, son of Wendell Phillips Stafford, a sitting justice on the District of Columbia Supreme Court and Marie Peary Stafford, daughter of Rear Admiral Robert E. Peary, USN, arctic explorer and discoverer of the North Pole. Having spent the summers of his adolescence at the Admiral's summer home on Eagle Island in Casco Bay, Maine and his school years in Washington, DC, he graduated from Western High School in 1937.

Ed's matriculation to Dartmouth College in 1938 was interrupted by the advent of World War II. Having been commissioned an Ensign in the Naval Reserve in September 1941 he was called immediately to active duty serving initially as Commanding Officer of the submarine chaser USS SC 692 performing convoy escort in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean as well as participating in the invasion of Sicily. In May of 1944 he was assigned to the Pacific Theater, as Executive Officer of the destroyer escort USS Abercrombie, where he was a participant in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the largest naval engagement in history. Having earned seven battle stars by the end of the war, Ed returned to Dartmouth, completing his BA in English and American Literature, Cum Laude.

Returning to active duty, Ed transitioned to Naval Aviation in March of 1950 where he served as both pilot and operations officer for hurricane hunter and airborne early warning squadrons for the next eight years. During this time, he also completed his MA in English and American Literature from George Washington University and in 1958 was a successful contestant on the nationally televised $64,000 Question quiz show. Following a tours as Naval Liaison Officer to the US Senate and Naval Representative at contractor Thiokol Chemical Corporation, Commander Stafford retired in 1962. Later that year he published his first book with Random House, a WWII carrier history, "The Big E." When the Vietnam War escalated, he was recalled to active duty to serve as Naval Historian for the Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet from 1966 to the end of 1969. Ed was particularly proud of the time he was able to spend in country with small naval units, convinced that first hand experience was best for historical accuracy. In 1968, he published his second book, a submarine epic entitled "The Far and the Deep" with Putnam.

Departing his beloved Navy for the final time, Ed entered civil service in October 1969. For the next eleven years, he would serve, consecutively, as speechwriter for the Secretary of the Navy; the Bicentennial Administrator; and the Administrator, National Aeronautics and Space Administration. After retiring from civil service, he worked with Morrow to publish his third book in 1984, the autobiographical destroyer escort narrative, "Little Ship, Big War." 1988 witnessed the Naval Institute Press publication of Ed's fourth and final book, "Subchaser," chronicling his early World War II experiences as a twenty four year old combat skipper.

Ed took maximum advantage of his often acknowledged gift of excellent health to remain active and engaged in both professional and family matters. He was a reliable attendee at all of his crew's WWII destroyer escort reunions, and active member and officer of the Patrick Air Force Base Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America. In addition, he routinely persuaded old shipmates to help him operate his "The Geriatric Delivery Service" delivering private vessels to east coast and Mississippi ports which, in the execution, generated both shared challenges and marvelous "sea stories." In April 1995, at age 77, Ed married the former Margaret ("Peggy") Ann Christ of Melbourne Beach, Florida, where both continued to reside until his passing.

Commander Edward P. Stafford, USN (Ret) passed away peacefully, at age 95, of natural causes at Holmes Regional Medical Center, Melbourne, Florida at 12:26 PM on Tuesday, September 24, 2013 surrounded by family. He is survived by his beloved wife Peggy, her daughter Ms. Lesley Christ, her son Mr. Kevin Christ; as well as his five children; his daughter, Judge Peary Stafford Fowler, his sons LTC Edward P. Stafford, Jr, USA (Ret.), Harte P. Stafford, Esq., Robert P. Stafford, Esq., Gregory P. Stafford, DDS; eleven grandchildren and one great grandchild.

"Home is the sailor, home from the sea; And the hunter home from the hill...." R. L Stevenson

A Celebration of Edward's Life will be held 1:00 p.m. on Friday, September 27th at Community Chapel of Melbourne Beach, 501 Ocean Avenue, Melbourne Beach FL.