Edgar Silvester Etz's Obituary
Edgar Silvester Etz, age 87, of Germantown, Maryland passed away peacefully at home on Monday, July 14, 2025.
Edgar, a beloved husband, father and grandfather, lived a life of love, generosity, and joy, and positively impacted thousands of lives around the world. Born in Wiesbaden-Sonnenberg, Germany, and an immigrant to the United States at the age of 21, Edgar lived a life committed to his wife, his family and his community, especially the America he loved.
Edgar will be remembered as a devoted husband, a loving father, a proud grandfather, and a loyal friend whose steady presence was a source of comfort and strength to all who knew him. He was the beloved husband of Nora Margarete (nee Muller-Kulenkampff) Etz. Their nearly 62 year marriage was the cornerstone of his life, a love story that began as young adults on a blind date in New York City. Of all the roles Edgar held, his greatest joy and proudest accomplishment was his family. He was the deeply loved father of Patricia, Erik, Karen, and Melanie. His most cherished title was “Opa” as he was the proud grandfather of Kristin, JJ, Annabelle, Eleanor, and Amelia. He was a fantastic friend, colleague, teammate, advisor, and supporter of so many others; he leaves a legacy of professionalism, experience, duty, humor, and caring. His smile was infectious and brightened lives all over the globe.
Edgar grew up in Germany as a young child during World War II, and studiously progressed as a teenager through the post-war years. In 1958, he immigrated to the United States with the German Arbitur degree, and further pursued a college education at Wagner College and Adelphi University in New York. During the summers, Edgar worked at the Colonial Inn in Pine Hill, New York, with extended family members who had also journeyed from Germany to the United States. It was in New York City in early 1961 that Edgar met the love of his life, Nora, and so began the journey of the Etz family that continues with Nora, the children, and grandchildren.
Dr. Edgar S. Etz, Research Chemist, was a leader in optical microprobe spectroscopy within the Microanalysis Research Group of the Surface and Microanalysis Science Division, Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory (CSTL), at National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland. He earned a Ph.D. degree in Chemistry from Clarkson University. He joined the staff at the National Bureau of Standards (now NIST) in 1967, and during his early years was active in analytical electrochemistry. In the mid-1970s he switched research fields by joining the microanalysis group of the Analytical Chemistry Division, and this move started his involvement in the development of the NBS Raman microprobe. Dr. Etz published extensively on his research and authored several book chapters on Raman microprobe spectroscopy. As part of a group advancing spectral data analysis to identify the use of chemical agents on behalf of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), his efforts ultimately helped OPCW be recognized with a Nobel Peace Prize for their work overseeing the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). Dr. Etz retired from NIST in 2005, concluding a distinguished 38 year career supporting science goals of the United States of America, and benefiting the greater global scientific community. He was a member of several professional societies, including American Chemical Society, SAS, MAS, ASTM and Sigma Xi.
Edgar was known for his enjoyment of the outdoors while swimming, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, and camping, for the joy he always found in supporting his children, their friends, and his grandchildren in sports, Scouts, and science-interest activities. He was well-respected as an active volunteer throughout his adult years in Montgomery County, Maryland. Edgar loved to travel the world with Nora, and he instilled that love of adventure in his children and grandchildren. He never missed an opportunity to venture into a National Park, he crossed the country by car at every available opportunity, and he logged hundreds of thousands of miles in the air crossing the continents. He always enjoyed a great train ride, and from childhood through his later years, he enjoyed collecting Marklin model trains and imagining the assembled collections thundering through the mountain passes of Europe.
The family has selected Ory Florist in New Market, MD as their florist of choice -- 240-315-6749.
A celebration of Edgar’s life will be held on Sunday, July 20, 2025, at Resthaven Memorial Gardens, 9501 Catoctin Mountain Highway, Frederick, MD 21701. Visitation with family will start at 10:00am, the Memorial service will begin at 11:00am, followed by burial at 12:00pm.
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