Obituary for Edward W. Livingston
Edward W. Livingston passed peacefully on February 28, 2019 leaving his loving family - devoted wife Pamela, sister Beatrice Donnan (Gerry), children Diana Livingston McGuinness (Charles), Edward H. Livingston (Valerie), Leslie Livingston-Alfano (Frank) and eight grandchildren: Emily, Megan and Rebecca McGuinness; Christopher, Catherine, and Andrew Livingston; Matthew and Lindsay Alfano and loving nieces and nephews.
Born in New York City, Edward was proudly educated in its public school system.
A graduate of P.S. 90 and the Bronx High School of Science, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in communication arts from Fordham University where he hosted a weekly jazz radio program on Fordham’s WFUV. Edward served as a 1st Lt. Battery Commander - 96th Field Artillery in Korea and Japan during the Korean War (1953-1955.)
Edward began his public relations career working for the Cunard Line, Ltd., handling press conferences for numerous political, theatrical, and business personalities including President Eisenhower, Marshall Tito and several other heads of state.
In 1968, he joined Con Edison serving as Manager of News Development and then Director of Community Relations supervising the reorganization and redirection toward conservation of the Company’s consumer outreach programs. He developed a number of award winning community programs in the cultural and educational areas. The Community Holiday Festival at Lincoln Center was one of three Con Edison programs that won the National Business Committee for the Arts Award. In 1975, Edward became Assistant to the Vice President with responsibility for government relations with New York city, state and federal government bodies. He was elected Vice President of Government and Community Relations in 1979 and under his leadership, Con Edison received President Reagan’s Private Sector Initiative Citation for outstanding service to the community.
In 1989, Edward was elected Senior Vice President of Public Affairs with responsibilities including government, community/media relations, consumer education and corporate communications. Edward retired in 1995 as Senior Vice President and Executive Assistant to the Chairman of Consolidated Edison Company after 27 years of service.
Mr. Livingston’s civic and professional activities have included committee positions in the Edison Electric Institute, the American Gas Association, New York Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Business Council of New York State. He is a past president of the New York City Arts and Business Council. He served on the Government Relations Committee of the Greater New York Fund/United Way.
He served on and was past chairman of the Community Advisory Board of WNET-Channel 13. He was a member of the board of the Citizens Crime Commission of New York City and former vice chairman of the N.Y.C Fire Safety Foundation from whom he received a special award for his efforts on behalf of the families of the firefighters who perished on September 11, 2001.
He is a past recipient of the Roy Wilkins Humanitarian Award of the New York State Chapter of the NAACP; the Hoey Award for Interracial Justice of the Catholic Interracial Council of New York; Mattie Cook Memorial Award of Malcolm-King College; the Brotherhood Award of the Instituto de Puerto Rico and the Special Recognition Award of the Grand Council of Hispanic Societies in Public Service.
A strong believer in the importance of education, he proudly served as a member of the scholarship selection committee of the Jackie Robinson Foundation and as Community Elementary School PS 90 New York City Principal for a Day.
Edward was an avid fisherman, tennis player, traveler and lover of Jazz. Beloved, his intellect and humor will be greatly missed by family and friends. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship Program or NYC’s Jazzmobile, Inc.
The family will receive friends at the WESTCHESTER FUNERAL HOME, INC. EASTCHESTER on Sunday - March 3, 2019 and Monday - March 4, 2019 from 4-8 pm. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday - March 5, 2019 at 10:00 am at Christ Episcopal Church, Bronxville. Interment to follow at Fairfield Memorial Park Cemetery, Stamford, CT.
To sign our online guest-book, please visit www.westchesterfuneralhome.com
Born in New York City, Edward was proudly educated in its public school system.
A graduate of P.S. 90 and the Bronx High School of Science, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in communication arts from Fordham University where he hosted a weekly jazz radio program on Fordham’s WFUV. Edward served as a 1st Lt. Battery Commander - 96th Field Artillery in Korea and Japan during the Korean War (1953-1955.)
Edward began his public relations career working for the Cunard Line, Ltd., handling press conferences for numerous political, theatrical, and business personalities including President Eisenhower, Marshall Tito and several other heads of state.
In 1968, he joined Con Edison serving as Manager of News Development and then Director of Community Relations supervising the reorganization and redirection toward conservation of the Company’s consumer outreach programs. He developed a number of award winning community programs in the cultural and educational areas. The Community Holiday Festival at Lincoln Center was one of three Con Edison programs that won the National Business Committee for the Arts Award. In 1975, Edward became Assistant to the Vice President with responsibility for government relations with New York city, state and federal government bodies. He was elected Vice President of Government and Community Relations in 1979 and under his leadership, Con Edison received President Reagan’s Private Sector Initiative Citation for outstanding service to the community.
In 1989, Edward was elected Senior Vice President of Public Affairs with responsibilities including government, community/media relations, consumer education and corporate communications. Edward retired in 1995 as Senior Vice President and Executive Assistant to the Chairman of Consolidated Edison Company after 27 years of service.
Mr. Livingston’s civic and professional activities have included committee positions in the Edison Electric Institute, the American Gas Association, New York Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Business Council of New York State. He is a past president of the New York City Arts and Business Council. He served on the Government Relations Committee of the Greater New York Fund/United Way.
He served on and was past chairman of the Community Advisory Board of WNET-Channel 13. He was a member of the board of the Citizens Crime Commission of New York City and former vice chairman of the N.Y.C Fire Safety Foundation from whom he received a special award for his efforts on behalf of the families of the firefighters who perished on September 11, 2001.
He is a past recipient of the Roy Wilkins Humanitarian Award of the New York State Chapter of the NAACP; the Hoey Award for Interracial Justice of the Catholic Interracial Council of New York; Mattie Cook Memorial Award of Malcolm-King College; the Brotherhood Award of the Instituto de Puerto Rico and the Special Recognition Award of the Grand Council of Hispanic Societies in Public Service.
A strong believer in the importance of education, he proudly served as a member of the scholarship selection committee of the Jackie Robinson Foundation and as Community Elementary School PS 90 New York City Principal for a Day.
Edward was an avid fisherman, tennis player, traveler and lover of Jazz. Beloved, his intellect and humor will be greatly missed by family and friends. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship Program or NYC’s Jazzmobile, Inc.
The family will receive friends at the WESTCHESTER FUNERAL HOME, INC. EASTCHESTER on Sunday - March 3, 2019 and Monday - March 4, 2019 from 4-8 pm. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday - March 5, 2019 at 10:00 am at Christ Episcopal Church, Bronxville. Interment to follow at Fairfield Memorial Park Cemetery, Stamford, CT.
To sign our online guest-book, please visit www.westchesterfuneralhome.com