Edward “Ed” Hugh Lay, of El Cerrito, passed away on November 1, 2017, at UCSF Medical Center after a 17-month battle with mesothelioma. He was 56 years old. Ed is survived by his parents, Manchiu Lay and Bertha Lay (nee Hugh) of Hastings-on-Hudson, NY, as well as by his two children, David Lay of El Cerrito and Ariel Phyliky-Lay of El Cerrito, and his brother, Norman Lay, sister-in-law Kim, and nephews Justin and Ryan.

Ed was born on November 9, 1960, in Manila, Philippines. His family soon relocated to the United States, where he lived the rest of his life. He graduated from Horace Mann High School in 1978 and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from MIT in 1983. In 1984, Ed married Carrie Phyliky and they had two children together.

Ed worked as head programmer for the Boxer Project with U.C. Berkeley School of Education and PyxiSystems for 30 years, before retiring in 2014. In 1999, Ed embarked upon a journey leading to his true passion, studying metal arts, learning jewelry making, and sculpture at the Richmond Art Center. In 2009, Ed became an instructor at the Richmond Art Center, eventually becoming Head Metal Studio Instructor. He also joined the board of ACCI Gallery in Berkeley.

Ed loved teaching as much as he loved crafting beautiful things with his hands. Ed’s jewelry and sculptures were displayed at craft shows and won several awards in competition. Most recently, Ed won the Innovation Award in the 2017 Lewton-Brain Foldform competition, an honor only given away one other time in the history of the contest.

There will be a memorial gathering and visitation for Ed’s family and friends at Sunset View Cemetery and Mortuary, 101 Colusa Ave, El Cerrito, on Sunday, November 12, 2017, from 11:00 am through 3:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting monetary donations to the Kato Joworski Children’s Fund at the Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Ave., Richmond, CA 94804.