Paul Gerard Edwards

Paul G. Edwards was born on March 12,1952 in Montclair, NJ. He was the middle of three sons born to long-time Montclair residents Robert F. and Kathryn Edwards. Paul attended Montclair public schools where he was a two-time All State lacrosse player and part of the group of men credited with turning Montclair into a state powerhouse. He then attended Johns Hopkins University, where he was part of teams playing in three consecutive NCAA national championship games, culminating in a national championship victory in 1974, his senior year.

While at Hopkins, he earned a lifelong nickname "Rabbit." Paul married his high school sweetheart, Elizabeth Costello, shortly after graduating Johns Hopkins and they remained lifelong partners, having celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary shortly before his passing. After his time at Johns Hopkins, Paul started his professional career in commercial banking while pursuing his MBA at Loyola University, leading to a long and distinguished 22-year career at Lehman Brothers, from which he retired in 2002.

After his retirement from Lehman Brothers, Paul returned to his true joy, lacrosse, when he was asked to take the reins of the Montclair Kimberley Academy's Men's Lacrosse program in 2003 while he was a volunteer assistant coach. Paul successfully coached the MKA program to various conference, divisional, and state honors during his 19-year tenure, including a 2012 NJSIAA State Group Championship. He was especially proud of the players he was able to have an impact on, their various accomplishments on and off the field, and his stewardship of the longstanding culture of the MKA lacrosse program.

Paul was inducted into the New Jersey Lacrosse Foundation Hall of Fame, Class of 2002 and the Montclair Kimberley Athletic Hall of Fame and was the NJ Star Ledger "Coach of the Year" in 2012, among other honors. Paul retired from coaching lacrosse in 2021 and began spending more time at his and Liz's longtime residence in Kiawah Island, South Carolina, where he remained active with his various interests. These included keeping up to date with technology and other topics with his "Caveman" group and regularly defeating his sons and extended family members in any golf format suggested at The Golf Club at Bryar's Creek, where he was a founding member and known by other members as "Coach". He also continued to make emeritus coaching appearances on the MKA lacrosse sideline when he and Liz were in residence in New Jersey.

Paul also held numerous leadership positions in the community including being a member of the Board of Trustees at Montclair Kimberley Academy from 1996-2000 and President of Montclair Golf Club from 2003-2005.

Paul is survived by his wife of 50 years, Elizabeth Edwards (neé Costello), and two sons, John Edwards with his wife Erin and their three children Giuliana, Daniella and Ryan and Kevin Edwards. He is also survived by his two brothers, Robert and his wife Joyce, and Daniel and his wife Barbara.

Viewings will be held on Monday, August 10, 2026, from 10:00 to 10:45 AM with a Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 11:00 AM, both at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 3871 Betsy Kerrison Parkway, Johns Island, SC 29455. There will also be a celebration of life held in Montclair, NJ, later in the fall.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke, DUMC 3624, Durham, NC 27710, with a notation "In Memory of Paul G. Edwards."