Edward A. Conforti

Published in the Idaho Statesman on 4/14/2009

Edward A. Conforti, 80, of Anacortes, died of cancer on Monday morning, April 13, 2009 at Island Hospital in Anacortes, surrounded by family.

The son of an Italian immigrant, Achille Conforti and his wife, Edith (Boerner), Ed was born on Nov. 2, 1928, in Chicago, Ill. His family moved to San Bernardino, Ca., during World War II where Ed completed high school and then set out on a professional baseball career with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization from 1946 - 1948.

Shortly before Ed's marriage, his father died and Ed was thrust into a position of supporting two families at the age of twenty at which time he returned to California and took a job as a postman.

Ed was encouraged by a neighbor to go into banking and in 1955 began his career repossessing cars for a small bank, which later merged in Security Pacific Bank. In 18 years with the firm, Ed rose to become one of the bank's youngest vice presidents and, in 1967, Ed graduated with honors from the Pacific Coast Bank Banking School at the University of Washington. His thesis, "Capital Notes and Debentures: A Financing Technique for Moderate and Smaller Sized Banks" is registered in the Library of Congress and to date is being used as a student research model at the Banking School.

Ed's career evolved into problem solving and took him to Seattle, Omaha, Bellingham, Boise, and Salt Lake City, however, what he enjoyed most was mentoring people and developing their banking careers. He retired in 1993 as executive vice president and chief credit officer of West One Bank, Utah.

The past 15 years, Ed and his wife, Shirley, have enjoyed spending their retirement years between Anacortes and Umbria, Italy. Ed also enjoyed Duplicate Bridge and was an active and committed volunteer with Hospice, tending to the terminally ill in their homes.

Ed credited his father for giving him a sense of compassion, love, and fortitude, which became the touchstone of his life.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents; and his brother, Paul of Bellingham, who died in 1984.

Ed married his wife, Shirley in 1982, and is also survived by his two sons and daughters-in-law, John and Cathie Conforti of Placerville, Ca. and Dan and Debbie Conforti of Bow, Wa.; daughter and son-in-law, Laurie and Don Churchill of Lynnwood, Wa.; 12 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; sister and brother-in-law, Marilyn and Wally Thomas; and numerous nieces; nephews; in-laws; and a larger family of beloved friends.

The family would like to thank Fidalgo and San Juan Skilled Nursing Centers, as well as Island Hospital for the kind and generous care Ed received.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 11a.m., Friday, April 17, 2009 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Anacortes, with interment at Grand View Cemetery in Anacortes.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Skagit Hospice, 819 S. 13th, Mt. Vernon, WA, 98274. Arrangements are in the care of Evans Funeral Chapel and Crematory, Inc., Anacortes, WA and the San Juan Islands.

To share memories of Ed please sign the online guest register at www.evanschapel.com.