Edward John Fries

Edward John “Ed” Fries, 87, of Ashburn, Virginia, passed away on May 12, 2026 surrounded by the love of his family. A devoted husband, father, grandfather, athlete, gardener, and traveler, Ed lived a life marked by optimism, curiosity, kindness, and joy.

Ed was born on June 3, 1938, in Columbus, Ohio, to Edward Stewart Fries and Claire Rollinger Fries. He grew up in Columbus alongside his two younger siblings Bob and Susan.

Ed graduated from Grandview High School before attending Miami University, where he earned a BA in Mathematics in 1962. At Miami, he was a proud member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity. Throughout retirement, Ed and his wife Ginger enjoyed vacations with his Phi Tau brothers and their wives, cherishing the laughter and camaraderie.

Ed began his professional career as an actuary during the earliest days of modern computing. He helped bring computer processing into the insurance industry while working at Phoenix Mutual Insurance. It was during this time, while taking a computer course at IBM, that he met Virginia “Ginger” Donoghue, who was teaching the course. They married in December 1963 and built a wonderful life together over the next six decades.

After several years at Phoenix, Ed became an owner of Computer Programming and Systems (CPS) in Stamford, Connecticut. Ed truly loved computer programming and problem solving. After retiring from CPS, he continued working independently as a programmer because he simply enjoyed the work so much.

Outside of work, Ed pursued life with tremendous enthusiasm. Tennis was one of his great loves. Taught by his father to play as a young boy, he became an avid and accomplished player throughout his life. He played in high school, captained the Stamford Yacht Club tennis team for many years, and frequently won club championships in both tennis and platform tennis. After retiring to Nellysford, Virginia, he joined the Wintergreen tennis community, where he again captained teams and remained a fierce but joyful competitor. A lifelong learner, Ed continued taking tennis lessons well into his later years. Even after being diagnosed with dementia, he found happiness on the tennis court, racket in hand and a smile on his face.

Ed was equally passionate about the outdoors and mountaineering. He loved hiking, camping, and climbing mountains, completing notable climbs including Mount Rainier, the Grand Teton, and the Grand Canyon. He shared this love of nature with his children, taking them camping and rock climbing. Later, he delighted in passing that same spirit of adventure on to his grandchildren through camping trips and outdoor explorations.

Gardening was another defining passion in Ed’s life. His flower gardens in Stamford were beautiful, but the gardens he created in Nellysford were truly spectacular. He planted trees and shrubs in backyard garden patches he affectionately called “the kidney beans,” while his front flower garden became a source of immense pride and joy. Winters were spent poring over plant catalogs searching for the perfect additions for the coming spring. When warmer weather arrived, he was outside planting, watering, pruning, weeding, and rearranging plants in pursuit of beauty. Ed loved walking family and friends through the garden while proudly pointing out his favorites. When dementia made maintaining the gardens more difficult, he still found deep happiness tinkering outdoors, pulling weeds, picking up sticks, and admiring the flowers he loved so much.

Ed also loved to travel and embraced adventure. After graduating from high school, he and a friend set off on a cross-country road trip from Ohio to California. During college, he spent six months backpacking through Europe, eagerly experiencing new places, cultures, and people. In later years, Ed and Ginger continued traveling extensively, often joined by his brother, sister, and their spouses. Among his favorite journeys were a trip through Asia with stops in Hong Kong, Cambodia, and Bhutan, and a South American adventure that included Peru, Machu Picchu, and the Galapagos Islands.

Ed was devoted to his family. He was an enthusiastic and supportive father who shared his love of sports with all three of his children, encouraging them to pursue activities they loved. He rarely missed a game, meet, or tournament and was always there cheering from the sidelines.

Those who knew Ed remember his extraordinary positivity and warmth. His sunny outlook on life drew people to him wherever he went. He was always ready with a smile, a laugh, or a story. He loved people deeply and made others feel welcomed and appreciated. As dementia gradually took much from him, it never diminished his joyful spirit. He continued to greet loved ones with happiness, warmth, and his familiar smile.

Ed is survived by his wife, Ginger Fries; his children, Ed Fries and his wife Julianne Fries of Jackson, Wyoming; Matt Fries and his wife Jenn Fries of North Kingstown, Rhode Island, and their children Hannah and Amelia Fries; and Kristin Sharpe and her husband Doug Sharpe of Vienna, Virginia, and their children Andy and Erin Sharpe. He is also survived by his siblings, Susan Fries and her husband Lew Bowers, and Bob Fries and his wife Linda.

Ed’s family sees his life as a testament to a life well lived. His optimism, generosity, and joyful spirit spread love wherever he went, and he was deeply loved in return. Even while facing dementia, he remained happy, positive, and full of warmth. We should all be so lucky to leave behind a legacy of such kindness, love, and sense of adventure.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like to direct donations in memory of Ed to Blue Ridge Respite, an organization that provided Ed so much joy through their program for people with memory loss.