Edwin Joseph Franasiak

Born in Erie, PA, Edwin died in his home in Rancho Mirage, CA after an aggressive recurrence of cancer. He was 77 years old.

Dr. Edwin Joseph Franasiak was unique and lived a rich life - rich in experience, rich in love. Raised by a single mother, he was a devoted son taking incredible care of his mother in her later years. He loved entertaining others. Starting at an early age, he would make sandwiches and serve beverages to his mother and her girlfriends after her workday ended at the GE plant in Erie, PA.  That gracious hospitality would serve him well throughout his lifetime bringing diverse people together for interesting discussions and laughter.

"Dr. Ed" was a teacher and a mentor.  There are hundreds of people who interacted with him during his lifetime and were helped by his gifts and expertise.  He leaves a legacy marked by kindness and thoughtfulness and generosity.  He was fun and had a wonderful gentle spirit that radiated a centerness and at homeness with himself.  

Ed loved travel, theater and movies (the edgier, the better), a Scotch with shared cocktail conversation, the music of Leonard Cohen, and cherry vanilla ice cream.  Those who knew him loved his wit, his generosity, his intelligence, his compassion, his naughtiness ... and they loved his hair.

Over the course of his lifetime, Ed traveled to over 50 countries.  In this 70's he took advantage of a Pan Am one-way around-the-world ticket offer for $2,000.  He visited a dozen countries including Poland where he was locked in a room all day by his hostess because she was afraid he would steal what little she had, India where he met a colleague who treated him to a feast that left him sick for days, and Thailand.  He fell in love with the country and people of Thailand working at a refugee camp in the northern part of the country.  He made many trips back to this country in the decades that followed.

Ed was a doer.  Willing to take chances, he was open to new experiences.  In his free time he helped renovate and manage the Islesboro Inn at Dark Harbor in Islesboro, Maine.  This building would later be bought by actress Kristie Alley.  He rented a storefront in Ogunquit, Maine and opened La Chatte Gift Shop so his mother would have something to do in her retirement.  He ate goat in Buenos Aires in celebration of New Year's Eve and watched lanterns gently float up all over the city.  At age 75 he attended Coachella, the music and arts festival for young people, and loved it.  He was generous with his time believing relationship maintenance, though a lot of work, was worth the effort.  He was especially committed to this during the COVID shutdown.  He very much believed in the importance of having goals, in having something to look forward to, in having something that gave you hope.  He dreamed of reaching Kuala Lumpur in 2025.

Ed is survived by his cousins Joan Sanza of Erie, PA and Joseph Midura of New Braunfels, TX and by his spouse and partner of 36 years, Robert Baird.

Ed attended Cathedral Preparatory School in Erie, PA graduating in 1964.  He studied philosophy and psychology at Gannon College in Erie and at Saint Bonaventure University in Olean, New York and graduated with a Bachelor's in Art in 1968.  He attended Saint Mark's Seminary in Erie, PA for a few years (he loved making milkshakes on Fridays for his fellow seminarians) before moving to Boston, MA and attending Boston College.  He earned his Master's degree in Education for Counseling Psychology in 1972.  He attended a summer of study at the beautiful campus of the Leysin American School in the Swiss Alps before pursuing his PhD.  In 1980 he earned his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Psychological Studies Institute at Stanford.  Dr. Ed's teaching appointments included Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester, MA, Anna Marie College in Paxton, MA, Medfield Training Academy in Medfield, MA and the University of Phoenix, Southern California Campus.  A licensed psychologist with the State of California, he was a member of the California Psychological Association and the American Psychological Association.

Through the 70's and 80's, Ed was the Clinical Program Director at the House of Affirmation under the Diocese of Worcester.  Here he provided counseling to an adult in-patient religious community utilizing a holistic model of teaching and therapy for men and women returning to the United States from foreign ministry or sabbatical leave.  He was a founding member of the Grace Institute providing clinical services to adults needing short term counseling and long term therapy and crisis intervention and helped many in the community who suffered from abuse and trauma.  In the 80's and 90's, Ed was employed by the Massachusetts Department of Corrections at Cedar Junction (formerly Walpole) counseling a maximum security population of male sex offenders, designing a Violence Reduction Program and a Sex Offender Treatment Program.  He belonged to the National Commission on Correctional Health Care.  In his role as a surveyor and Mental Health and Substance Abuse Specialist for this national accreditation agency, he participated in a multidisciplinary survey team assessing, evaluating, and recommending improvements in health services in correctional settings.  He participated in surveys throughout the United States and was meant to fly home from one of these surveys on September 11, 2001.  It was nearly a week before he could do so.  In 2002 he relocated to Rancho Mirage, CA and began work for the Riverside County Department of Mental Health first in Hemet at the Hemet Health Clinic, then in Cathedral City at the Cathedral City Mental Health and Substance Abuse Clinic and finally in Palm Springs.  He was the Clinical Supervisor for the Full Service Partnership program training future clinicians and providing counseling to mentally ill and homeless individuals.  He trained many new clinicians. His staff loved him and kept in touch with him long after he retired.  He retired in early 2017 after 15 years with the County.

For years Ed contributed to FIND Food Bank, Coachella Valley Rescue Mission, and Boys Town and, with his partner, established a scholarship for LGBTQ+ students at the College of the Desert.  Ed enjoyed movies and for many years attended the Palm Springs International Film Festival gala.  He enjoyed many trips to New York City to see Broadway shows.  His most recent travels in 2024 took him to Montreal for a cruise down the Saint Lawrence Seaway and a final visit to Boston and Erie.

Ed touched many in his life and will be missed by many in his death.