Edward Paul "Ed" Pompeian, 67, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday morning, July 6th at St. Marys Hospital surrounded by his loving family and friends.

Ed was born in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, where he spent his earliest happy childhood years with his parents Edward and Helen, his sister Sharon, and their extended family in Pontiac's vibrant Armenian immigrant community. In 1964, a misdiagnosed illness brought him to the Mayo Clinic where he received a life-saving kidney transplant in 1973. His mother gave him life twice, she was his organ donor. Rochester became their home for the next forty-six years. Supported by his family and new friends, he began a successful business and real estate career and established the commercial brokerage firm of Realty Growth Incorporated.

From his own experience of sickness and healing, Ed understood the financial and emotional strain that transplantation places on organ recipients and donors; their families and caregivers. He dreamed of creating a home away from home for other transplant patients to help relieve some of the stress and turmoil he had experienced first-hand. He made that compassionate vision a reality in 1984 by founding the Gift of Life Transplant House. He dedicated himself to serving on the board of the House and served as treasurer and board member of the National Association of Hospital Hospitality Houses. In recognition of his life-long community service and philanthropic work, Ed received numerous honors including the National Association of Realtors' Good Neighbor Award in 2014. In 2016, the house at 705 2 ^nd Street SW was named, the Edward and Jayne Pompeian Home.

Throughout his life, Ed blessed many friends and countless transplant patients with his kindness and fun-loving good humor. He was an unceasing advocate of the Mayo Clinic and his love for Mayo moved him to assist friends and family to find the best medical care available. While visiting one hospitalized transplant friend in 1979, he met the love of his life, a nurse named Jayne, whom he wed in 1980. Ed and Jayne were married for almost thirty-nine years and raised four wonderful children.

Ed shared the gift of his life with his family and many friends and they gave him great hope and joy in return. He was preceded in death by his father and mother. He is survived by his wife, Jayne; his children, Edward (Lizzie Anderson), Aaron (Helen), Nick (Rochelle), and Adrienne; three grandchildren, Henry, Nazarian, and Leo; his sister, Sharon Maraian; nephew, Paul (Arous) Maraian; and his great-niece, Araxi.

Despite the many challenges he faced, Ed was a man of great faith, fortitude, and character. He reminded us he lived a blessed life because of God, his family, and the Mayo Clinic. He will be greatly missed by all who were fortunate enough to know him.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Gift of Life Transplant House or Ascension Lutheran Church in Rochester. Ed is the proud author of, The Gift of Life : The Story of Edward Pompeian and the Founding of the Gift of Life Transplant House. Copies are available for purchase on Amazon or directly from the Gift of Life Transplant House and all proceeds are donated to the organization.

A celebration of Ed's life will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, July 11, 2019 in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home with Rev. Brian Kom officiating. Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 8:00 pm on Wednesday in the River Park Chapel and one hour prior to the service on Thursday.