Edward Wanamaker followed in his father’s footsteps as an outstanding athlete and leader at Nyack High School. Now he follows his father Wilbur “Web” Wanamaker, a 2011 inductee, into the Rockland County Sports Hall of Fame. During his formative years Ed’s father, Wilbur, and mother, Bea, encouraged Ed, along with his siblings, Don, Nancy, Tom and Wilbur to become involved at the Nyack YMCA. Here they learned to swim and play a variety of sports. His accomplishments both in sports and the classroom are a testimony to the qualities of this man. As a four-sport varsity athlete Ed still found time to serve as vice president in his junior year and as president of his senior class in 1972.

As a sophomore Ed lettered in two sports; he was a varsity pitcher and outfielder for the baseball team, and the starting fullback on Nyack’s PSAL championship soccer team. In his junior year Ed lettered in four varsity sports. He was a starter and second team All-County fullback on Nyack’s undefeated (16-0) PSAL, Section 9 and New York State Regional championship soccer team. In the winter Ed managed to play on two varsity teams; he played on the varsity hockey team and started on the PSAL and Section 9 volleyball championship team. The spring season of Ed’s junior year brought him and Nyack their third championship season. Ed was a pitcher and outfielder on the Rockland County PSAL and Section 9 championship baseball team.

In his senior year, Ed led his soccer team to their fifth consecutive championship, plus a host of individual awards were bestowed upon him. He captained the PSAL champion- ship soccer team and captained the hockey team to a second- place finish in the Hudson Valley Hockey League. Nyack finished with the best county team record, losing the champion- ship game to St. Mary’s 4-2. In the spring Ed batted .415 as a starting pitcher and outfielder on the baseball team. Ed was voted All County first team in all three sports and in the spring Ed was selected to the first team All-Metropolitan New York Daily News baseball team. But it was on the soccer field that Ed was a real star. Not only was he voted team MVP but The Journal News selected Ed as the Rockland County Soccer Player of the Year. John Whisker, Ed’s soccer coach in his senior year, described him by saying, “Wanamaker was the hub of our team, he stopped the opposition’s offense and started our offense. Ed broke up the opposition’s drives and turned it around. He was the team’s leader.” The late Rudy Rejholec, former Nyack athletic director and a Rockland Hall of Famer said of Ed, “Ed Wanamaker was one of the best all-around athletes that we ever had at Nyack High School. I wish I had a whole team of athletes like Eddie Wanamaker.”

After graduating from Nyack High School, Ed was recruited to play soccer for Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Ind. Always one to stay active, while at Wabash College Ed played club hockey for two years, varsity baseball for three years and varsity soccer for all four years. In 1976 Ed was selected as the soccer team’s Most Valuable Player.

After graduating from college Ed worked for Savin Business Machines for two years and then became a self-employed carpenter, a career that he still enjoys today. He currently lives in Brewster, Mass. He is the proud father of five children: Jessica, 32; Laura, 19; Julius, 16; Shannon, 11; and Honora, 8.