ROCKLAND - Edward J. Mazurek, 78, affectionately known as "Coach Maz", died peacefully October 4, 2017, surrounded by his loving family.

Born on December 21, 1938 in Stamford, Conn., Ed attended Stamford Public Schools, graduating in 1956. He received a four-year football scholarship to Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating in 1960 and returned to school and received his master's degree in education from Fairfield University in 1968.

Ed has been involved in sports all of his life, beginning at an early age, playing Little League Baseball. He played first base on the 1951 Little League World Championship Team and on the 1954 Babe Ruth World Championship Team.

At Stamford High School, he played football, basketball and baseball. He played four years of football at Xavier University, as an offensive and defensive tackle and was selected to play in the Gem City Bowl in Buffalo, N.Y.

He was drafted by the AFL Patriots, Hamilton Tiger-Cats of Canada and the St. Louis Cardinals of the NFL. In 1960, while playing for the Stamford Golden Bears, he was acquired by the N.Y. Giants and in the off-season was traded to the Minnesota Vikings.

In 1963, he began his coaching career at Norwalk Central Catholic High School, and served as head coach from 1967-1970. He then moved to Barrington, Rhode Island, where he enjoyed four years as head football coach at Barrington High School before moving to Triton Regional High School in Mass.,, where he served as head football coach and athletic director for three years.

In 1977, he began his career at Rockland District High School as the head football coach, where he led the Fighting Tigers for 10 years, retiring in 1988.

In 1981, he became the head softball coach, where he led the Lady Fighting Tigers for 18 years, retiring in 1999. It was on the sports playing fields where he impacted so many youths from this area.

"Coach Maz" was known for leaving many smashed pumpkins on football fields after Fighting Tiger victories and rewarding home game victories with a post-game trip down Main Street on the team bus. He also operated summer football, field hockey and cheering camps.

Ed had been politically involved in Rockland, serving on many boards and commissions. He was past president of his Parish council. He served on Rockland's Planning Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals and the Recreation Advisory Board.

He was elected to the Rockland City Council and served two terms as Mayor of Rockland.

In 2005, he was elected to the state Legislature, as Representative of District 47 and was a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation.

In 2012, he was elected and served as a Democratic State Senator, representing much of Knox County, until 2014.

He was a member of the Rockland Golf Club, Knights of Columbus, Oyster River Yacht Club and Rockland Elks Club.

He lived life to the fullest by traveling with his wife and spending time with his family, which was the most rewarding part of his life. He was so proud of his family and loved them unconditionally.

While he may have retired from his official coaching jobs, he never stopped coaching. He became and was a role model and mentor to many.

Family time was so important and what he enjoyed most was spending time with all the grandkids, attending all their sporting and extracurricular activities and reading to Ryan and Will. At Christmas time he enjoyed passing out all the presents.

He really enjoyed going to the Patriots weekend with his son, Rich, which was a long standing father-son trip for many years. He always enjoyed his special friendship with a group of childhood friends known as "The Boys", who have remained connected through the years taking many trips and mischievous adventures.

Ed was predeceased by his son, Michael Mazurek, and granddaughter Taylor Mae Mazurek.

Ed is survived by his wife Maryellen, of Rockland; his sons Edward J. Mazurek, of Orlando, Florida; Richard J. Mazurek and his wife, Jennifer Mazurek, of Rockland; his daughters Laura E. Langford and her husband, Jesse Langford, of Rockland; and Sarah E. Mazurek, of Rockland; five grandchildren, Cameron Mazurek, Nicholas Mazurek, Alexis Mazurek, Ryan Langford and Wil Langford; a brother James Mazurek and his wife Song of Sarasota, FL; a nephew James Mazurek of FL, and a niece Alicia Mazurek of NY, NY.

Family and friends are invited to visit from 5 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, October 11, 2017, at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock St., Rockland.

A memorial mass will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, October 12, officiated by Reverend Robert Cleveland at St. Brendan the Navigator Parish, 150 Broadway, Rockland. Interment will be in Coughlin Memorial Cemetery, Rockland. A reception will be held at the Rockland Lodge of Elks following the committal. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to "Save Oceanside Fields", c/o Dennis Norton, P.O. Box 1262, Rockland, Me 04841. To share a memory or condolence with the Mazurek family, visit their Book of Memories at bchfh.com