Edward Nista

BRUNSWICK — Edward R. “Ed” Nista, 68, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, Jan. 7th with his loving wife Katherine by his side. He was born in Providence, R.I., Aug. 29, 1948 to Edward R. Nista and Edith Cesino Nista.

Ed was a 1966 graduate of LaSalle Academy in Providence, R.I., and attended the University of Rhode Island. He moved to Lovell in 1974, where he and his former spouse, Linda Carmody Nista, raised their two daughters.

Ed was self-employed for his entire adult life, first as owner of Moonstone Leather Shop in Conway, N.H., and then as a carpenter, builder and remodeler in Lovell. He later founded New Suncook Real Estate with offices in Lovell and Bridgton. Ed was active in his local community and served on several planning boards, including the Greater Lovell Land Trust. Through the Land Trust Ed was a catalyst in creating a 600-acre land preserve along the banks of Heald and Bradley Ponds in Lovell. In 2006 Ed served as the president of the Western Maine Board of Realtors. Ed loved the outdoors and was a proud member of the Westways softball team at Kezar Lake, where he played softball every Thursday evening for more than two decades.

Ed closed his real estate agency in 2014 and moved to Brunswick, where he retired to work as a Realtor for Morton Real Estate Company. More recently, Ed used his fine craftsman’s skills to refurbish antiques with his wife Katherine and dabbled in oil painting.

Ed was a kind and gentle soul who delighted all that he met with his quick wit and mirthful sense of humor. He was clever and creative and applied those gifts to his everyday life.

He was predeceased by his father, Edward R. Nista. He is survived by his wife, Katherine Nista; mother, Edith Cesino Nista, of Cranston, R.I.; daughter, Naomi and husband, Kevin Lindberg of South Salem, N.Y.; daughter, Leah Nista of Brooklyn, N.Y.; sister and husband, Donna and Chris Lally of Cranston, R.I.; stepson, Brendan Malone of Washington, D.C. and cherished grandsons, Wyeth and Auden Lindberg of South Salem, N.Y.

A private celebration of Edward’s life will be held this summer when it is sunny, warm, and bright. Arrangements are by Stetson’s Funeral Home, 12 Federal St., Brunswick, ME 04011, where memorial condolences may be expressed at stetsonsfuneralhome.com