Edward Charles Pohlmann Jr.

Born in Chicago, Illinois on March 18, 1931, he was the son of Edward and (Lois Marita (Puller) Pohlmann. 

Ed came to Wilmington as a teenager for summers and stayed with his cousins. This is when his love for this area began. He and his cousins enjoyed canoeing and being outside in the mountains. Ed could not have known at the time that the Adirondacks would make a lasting impression and he would find his retirement haven back in these woods.

Ed began his college education at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. It was there he met his wife, Alice. Not long after they were married, Ed was drafted into the United States Navy. They were stationed at the Groton Connecticut, where son Warren was born. After being discharged from the Navy, Ed and family moved back to Evanston to continue his education and soon daughter Lorraine was born. Ed continued his mechanical engineering masters and doctorate degrees at Princeton University and the University of Oklahoma. Baby Leigh was born in Stillwater, Oklahoma, completing the family. The family returned to the Chicago area where Ed held various engineering research and design positions and for a time taught college. 

Throughout his life, Ed had a passion for cars. In his free time he could usually be found in the garage. He enjoyed repairing and restoring unique cars such as Packards, Citroens and Jaguars. As a young man Ed completed in gymkhanas, winning many first-places prize. His car, a modified modest looking Renault, would draw a few chuckles from the crowd until they saw him run, soundly beating corvettes and the like.

When his wife Alice began working full time, Ed threw himself into learning to cook. He especially enjoyed making gourmet dishes, including a birthday cake Leigh will never forget. When Leigh was in her early teens, she wanted a fancy and multi-layered torte cake for her birthday. Ed rose to the challenge and created a 12-layer lemon torte. While it wasn’t exactly a firm and straight tower, it was tall and tasted delicious. One of Ed’s favorites was pecan pie. After several rounds of experimentation, (which the family had to eat, dang!), Ed finally landed on the best pecan pie ever. This recipe is the cornerstone of our “family recipes” collection.

Ed performed and appreciated music his entire life. As a child he studied music theory and played the violin and piano. As an adult, Ed learned banjo, playing for several years with a band at weddings and other events. Later no longer challenged by the banjo, Ed took up the mandolin playing until just a few years ago. All along the way with his knowledge of music theory, Ed arranged songs for his bands and even wrote music. Ed enjoyed regular trips to Montreal to see the opera with friends up until his death. Ed loved living here in his “Camp.” While appreciating quiet and solitude, he was also proud of his family of neighbors and the friendships he shared.

  He is survived by his former wife Alice of Durham, North Carolina; three children Warren Pohlmann of Tucson, Arizona;  Lorraine (Cleveland) McCune of Millboro, Virginia; and Leigh (Bill) Brian of Durham, NC and five grandchildren Aesop, Angel Marie, Katie, Morgan and Keegan and his wife Grace. Ed was preceded in death by one sister Lois Carlson and one granddaughter Kelsey Brian.

  A memorial serivce will be held ar 2:30 p.m. on Friday Aug. 23, 2019 at the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake, with Rev. Martin Cline  officiating.  

Friends wishing to remember Edward Charles Pohlmann Jr. may make memorial contributions to the Bloomingdale Volunteer Fire Department or the American Red Cross in care of the funeral home.  Family and friends can also share their memories and sign the online guestbook at fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.