Edwin H. Kerr, Jr.

Edwin H. Kerr, Jr passed away suddenly on June 26, 2025. Beloved son to the late Edwin H. and Anna V. (Nee Devlin) Kerr.

Edwin is survived by his loving wife of nearly 28 years, Ann Kerr; son, Benjamin Kerr; sister, Margaret K. Graham; several nieces and nephews; step-children, Laura Wood (husband Ralph Wood), Karen Victoria; and step-grandchildren, Samantha Wood, Trevor and Sean Victoria, Madeline and Cora Geunes. Ed had several wonderful years with his first wife, the late Nan Kerr, and was blessed to find love again with wife Ann, with whom he spent over 31 amazing years making memories together.

Ed was a proud native of Southwest Philadelphia where he attended Saint Barnabas Catholic School. As a graduate of West Philadelphia Catholic High School for Boys Class of 1960, Ed remained a loyal Burr for the rest of his life. From the early 1980s to the mid-1990s, Ed announced the West Catholic Boys home basketball games and home football games. He became known as the “Voice of the Burrs.” He served as President of the West Catholic Alumni Association and a contributor to its newspaper the Emissary. West Catholic wasn’t just the place where he attended high school, it was a place in his blood. It went beyond mere school spirit as he was dedicated to helping the students and the school to thrive. He loved catching up with fellow alums and faculty members, and staff at the annual Communion Breakfast, Burrs at the Beach, Sports Hall of Fame, and other social events.

A graduate from The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, Ed spent his early career working in management for Philco/Philco-Ford, and in advertising for a medical suture company. In 1972, Ed joined the sales team of pre-measured chemical company Walton-March where he would eventually become Eastern Divisional Sales Manager. His tenure with Walton-March would lead him and his family to living in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Illinois, and the Philadelphia area. He would remain with the company until 1992 when he would go on to start his own company, S.W. Burr, Inc. as a manufacturer sales representative for various industrial cleaning products. Ed would continue to represent various products in the cleaning supply and floor safety industry for many years.

Family was an important part of Ed’s life as he enjoyed spending time with his first wife Nan, his second wife Ann, son Ben, his sisters Eleanor and Margaret, 19 nieces and nephews, in-laws, step-children, step-grandchildren, and his pets. Ed valued his family and his friendships. He always did his best to keep in touch with people throughout the years via phone calls, greeting cards, emails, or the occasional surprise visit to someone’s home. In recent years, he enjoyed finding photographs in his collection and emailing them to the people in them along with a message to check in on them. He was a man who cared about other people, their well-being, and the importance of remembering those who are good to you.

Ed loved sports, but especially the game of baseball, as he faithfully followed his Athletics from Philadelphia to Kansas City to Oakland, and even this season in Sacramento. Devotion isn’t a big enough word. His knowledge of the players, managers, and statistics regarding the A’s, past and present, was second to none. When former A’s player and Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson had finished a game against the Yankees in New York in the early 70s, Ed caught a ride with Jackson and his father after striking up a conversation with Reggie’s dad at the game. Ed and son Ben saw the A’s play in several ballparks and even took weeklong summer trips to see the A’s play in Oakland from 1987-1989. Other interests included basketball, football, baseball cards, animals, travel, music, photography, reading, dancing, and watching classic movies and classic television.

Ed’s laughter, smile, sense of humor, enthusiasm, kindness, love of life, and the love for people in his life will be missed dearly.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Details will be shared when available.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Edwin’s name to the West Catholic Preparatory High School Invest In West Fund would be appreciated at www.westcatholic.org