By Alex Schneider, Website Editor
Published: December 24, 2018
(Editor’s Note: Samuel Edward “Ed” Hatch, whose stories to his grandchildren prompted this website, died this past week at the age of 93. This website serves as a lasting tribute to Mr. Hatch and the 130th Chemical Processing Company, as well as all those who were killed by – or survived – the July 3, 1944 bombing at Sloane Court in London. The following is an obituary published in The Springfield Republican on December 24, 2018.)
Samuel Edward “Ed” Hatch, a World War Two Purple Heart veteran beloved by a generation of Springfield-area children as the host of “Uncle Ed’s Fun Club” on WWLP, died over the weekend at the age of 93. He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Freda, his children Tracy and David, son-in-law Bruce, his grandchildren, Alexander, Gabriel and Dalia, and his granddaughter-in-law Ariel. Mr. Hatch is predeceased by his parents David Herman Hatch and Esther Dann Hatch, and siblings Leon Hatch, Selma Caplan, and Hilda Goldstein.
Mr. Hatch served his country with honor in World War II. He was assigned to the 130th Chemical Processing Company in November 1943, and was stationed in England, France, and the Philippines. On July 3, 1944, just shy of his 20th birthday, Mr. Hatch survived a German V-1 “buzz bomb” explosion that took the lives of at least 66 American servicemen, the greatest loss of life for American servicemen due to a V-1 attack. The bomb claimed the life of Mr. Hatch’s army buddy, Theodore Booras of Lynn, Mass. Mr. Hatch wrote regularly of the impact of Mr. Booras’ sacrifice in letters to the Lynn Item, a newspaper in Lynn, Mass. At the close of the war, Mr. Hatch was honored with the Purple Heart. A plaque honoring his receipt of the Purple Heart is at the intersection of Dickenson and Converse Streets in Longmeadow.
Mr. Hatch lived most of his life in greater Springfield, and became a local treasure to those who knew him, someone who stayed near his roots in Springfield and embodied the City’s history and evolution. Born of modest means at Kenwood Park Terrace in the Forest Park section of Springfield, Mr. Hatch learned and lived by the phrase “moderation of all things,” wisdom passed on from his father, David. Mr. Hatch came of age during the Great Depression, and graduated from Springfield’s Classical High School with honors on the eve of World War II, in 1943. After the war, Mr. Hatch graduated with high honors from Boston University School of Communications on the GI Bill, and worked in radio and broadcasting.
Mr. Hatch is perhaps best known locally for his years as a news anchor and host of Uncle Ed’s Fun Club on WWLP-TV, channel 22. As Uncle Ed, Mr. Hatch entertained a generation of children with his caricatures in the time slot before the Howdy Doody show. Mr. Hatch later worked for the Social Security Administration in Holyoke, Mass. for more than 20 years.
Throughout his life, Mr. Hatch had a love of words, and penned many treasured, handwritten letters to his children and grandchildren, which often included poems and cartoons about their adventures.
Growing up, Mr. Hatch attended the original Kodimoh Synagogue in Springfield, which later became Kesser Israel Synagogue. His graveside funeral service will be held at the Kodimoh Cemetery, 350 King’s Highway, West Springfield, on Monday, December 24, 2018, at 1:00 pm. For further information or directions, please visit ascherzimmerman.com.
Published at http://obits.masslive.com/obituaries/masslive/obituary.aspx?n=samuel-edward-hatch&pid=191069761