Edward “Ed” R. Pope, born October 29, 1960, in Chicago, IL, peacefully passed away on Monday, April 15, 2024, from complications of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP).
Ed met his soul mate, Betty Roberts, in Milwaukee, in 1989. They married and spent a cherished 35 years together. He adored his two daughters, Serena and Pema, and happily spoiled them.
If Ed had a theme song, it would be “I did it my way”. Ed didn’t just drink from the fountain of life; he drank from the fire hose of life. He lived life fully and many have said he lived 3 lifetimes all wrapped up in one. Some words those dear to him described him as, a tremendous human being, curious, enthusiastic, warm, personable, caring, passionate, principled, inspirational, trusted friend, visionary, fun loving and joyful.
Ed had a vast circle of life-long friends whom he loved to travel the World with and expand himself physically, intellectually, and emotionally. Among his many hobbies which he jumped into with his entire being were Mountain Climbing, Mountaineering, 24-hour Mountain Bike Racing, Playing Flamenco Guitar, Photography before the digital era ruined it for him (his words), Boxing, Playing Polo, Scuba Diving, to name a few.
Ed could relate to and connect with everyone young and old and loved to mentor young adults starting their career.
His love and appetite of exploring the World was insatiable. From mountain climbing in Nepal, Bolivia, Peru, Kenya, Tanzania, Iceland, New Zealand, Canada, Bhutan, Japan to doing business in Germany, Italy, Taiwan, China, Egypt to celebrating his 30th birthday in a mud hut in Nepal and his 40th birthday in the backwaters of Papua New Guinea and his 50th birthday competing in a 24-hour mountain bike race in Australia. His motto was always “Why not??”
Exploring the World and the mind were prevalent throughout his adult life. He spent endless hours with Mindfulness and Meditation Instructors including His Holiness the Dalai Lama as well as with one of the top lucid dreaming scientists, talking about how to improve the human brain’s ability to problem solve and add creativity to their lives. This was the tip of the iceberg, and he spent countless weeks traveling with friends from around the World, in particular his beloved companions from his YPO-IC group, talking into the night about the wonders of the world and how they could make it a better place. Always curious, always looking for ways to push the limits of the human body and brain, always in with both feet. As his physical body failed him in his final months, he often said he was looking forward to exploring his next reality and regaining the ability to do all of the things he loved to do.
Educational Achievements: Graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in business. Then he simultaneously worked at the law firm of Reinhart Boerner in Milwaukee, WI as well as being one of the top executives with the Becker Review Courses, all the while completing his MBA with top honors at the University of Chicago. His intellectual pursuits didn’t end there, and Ed completed an Executive MBA course at Harvard University.
Ed was a proud patriot and felt honored and privileged to defend our country and safeguard it in any way he could. His roles in Foreign Diplomacy and Navy Seal mentorship were his pride and glory.
The geographical boundaries of the US were never seen as boundaries with Ed when doing business long before the internet made that common and easy.
Business accolades: He began his career at Price Waterhouse and quickly realized that accounting was “not his thing” so he went to work at the law firm of Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren as an investment banker and found his calling. He loved the deal business and started up his own firm Corporate Financial Advisors where he spent numerous years helping business owners with not only the financial aspects of buying or selling their business-but coached them through the emotional process as well. He then became a business owner himself in 1995 when he bought DexM Corporation. Fast forward to 2014, Ed re-entered the investment World by founding Exponential Partners, a venture capital investment firm.
Ed leaves behind his wife, Betty; his daughters, Serena and Pema; Mother, Barbara Pope; Father, Edward Pope; brother, Mike (Barb) Pope; sister, Jessica (Steve) Horak; brothers-in-law, Tony (Cathy) Roberts and Jerry Roberts; sisters-in-law: Mary (Larry) Dahl; Ann (Kevin) Glosny and Christy (Pat) Baxter; numerous beloved nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.
Visitation is at the Proko-Wall Funeral Home, 1630 E. Mason St. from 2:00-5:00 pm on Friday, April 26. A sharing of memories will begin at 5:00 pm. Ed will be entombed in the Calvary Cemetery, Manitowoc, Wisconsin. To send online condolences to Ed’s family go to www.prokowall.com.
In loving memory of Ed, and in lieu of floral expressions, the family requests donations be made to the Ed Pope Memorial Fund with checks made out to Betty Pope. Memorials donations may be made out to Betty Pope thru her Zelle account, 949-922-6702. These funds will be split among things Ed passionately supported such as, Children’s Hospital-Victims of Child Abuse Foundation that he and Betty founded, research for the cure to PSP, and the Navy Seal Foundation.
Robert J. Walczyk Jr. is serving the family.