LAWRENCE, Mass. – Edward C. Croteau, 66, of Methuen, Mass., died Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008, at Lawrence General Hospital surrounded by his family following a long illness.

Edward was born in Lawrence, Mass. He graduated from Tenney High School in 1958. He attended Norwich University and went on to receive his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Merrimack College.

He worked as an auditor for Arthur Anderson in Boston, followed by work as the comptroller for both Service Heel in Lawrence and then French, Shriner and Earner in Boston. Edward also worked as the V.P. of finance at Etonic in Auburn, and he was owner of Data Management Inc. Edward finished his professional career as general manager of Sam’s Italian Foods in Lewiston from 1984 through retirement.

Edward was involved in the Jay Cee’s, Junior Achievement, the Knuckle Buster’s Car Club, was a member at Poland Spring Country Club in Poland Spring, and was also a member of the Masonic Fraternity, was a Rotarian, and was a chapter chair for the Red Cross in Auburn. He coached youth hockey in Lawrence, Methuen and at the University of Maine at Farmington, where he also taught business classes.

Ed was an avid golfer, skier, hockey player and was passionate about the Red Sox and Celtics.

He was a past member of the Grace Episcopal Church in Lawrence, Mass., and St. Michael’s in Auburn.

He leaves three children, Scott Croteau of Lawrence, Mass., Jennifer Dube-Works and her husband, Daniel, of Greene, and Todd Croteau and his wife, Ellen, of Edgewater, Md.; sisters, Patricia Jackson and her husband, Joel, of Methuen, Mass., Geraldine Pike and her husband, Bob, of Portsmouth, N.H., Cynthia Mahoney and her husband, Frank, of Deltona, Fla., and Cheryl Orr and her husband, Steve, of La Canada, Calif.; a brother, Michael Croteau of Raymond, N.H.; four grandchildren, Adam and Camden Dube, and Sara and Geneva Croteau; several nieces, nephews and many dear friends.