Remembering Ed Sedarbaum
Berkshire Stonewall Community Coalition would like to share these words from Rainbow Seniors of Berkshire County in remembrance of Ed Sedarbaum, who founded Rainbow Seniors and was a past board member of Berkshire Stonewall.
“Our beloved founder, Ed Sedarbaum, died peacefully at his Williamstown home on Wednesday, November 20, 2024. Eddie was hospitalized several weeks ago and after many tests and conversations decided to enter hospice care. Several longtime close friends rallied to arrange the logistics of care so that he could go back home on Wednesday, November 13. Friends and teams of nurses made sure that he was comfortable , and his longtime canine companion Punky made extended visits.
A few hours before he died, a small rainbow appeared on the floor under his bed, cast by sunlight through a glass decorated with his husband Howard Cruse’s cartoon character Wendel. It was a clear symbol of the work Eddie did throughout his lifetime of community service, working to secure the rights of people of all backgrounds, especially those of us in the LGBTQ+ community.
Ed formed the Rainbow Seniors of Berkshire County in 2015, drawing on decades of experience as a community organizer in New York City. He founded the Queens Center for Gay Seniors in 1995 and ran for the NY State Senate in 1998, the first openly gay candidate for elected office in Queens County. Upon moving to North Adams in 2003, he saw the isolation and lack of support for and among LGBTQ+ people in Berkshire County; Ed was determined to do something about it. He spoke with individuals, senior centers, and Elder Services of Berkshire County. With their support he secured a Federal grant to establish the Rainbow Seniors. As director 2015-2018, Ed built the organization into a vibrant and flourishing group within the Berkshire LGBTQ+ community. In 2018 he recruited M Florence Hall as a paid director who, with Ed’s guidance, led the group through a successful leadership transition and the pandemic lockdown. Ed also helped recruit our current coordinator, Cass Santos-China.
Ed’s perseverance was again demonstrated when his husband, Howard Cruse, died in 2019 just a few months after being diagnosed with lymphoma. Even while grieving Ed continued his work with us, providing guidance to our director and attending events. Approximately a year later, Ed was hospitalized with life-threatening conditions that kept him away from home for three months. As soon as his health stabilized he resumed his work with the Rainbow Seniors Steering Committee. He also gave generous financial gifts to provide for the long-term stability of the organization.
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