Mr. Edward Jesse Shephard, Sr., 83, of Columbia, and formerly of Brewster, MA, Orange, CT, Ithaca, NY, and Syracuse, NY, died Monday, January 12, 2015. Born January 14, 1931 in Syracuse, NY, he was the son of the late Marlowe Edward and Doris Yeakel Shephard.

Mr. Shephard maintained passionate ties to his alma mater, Syracuse University ('53, '55), its alumni association, and Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. Coxwain of the Syracuse Rowing Team, he remained active throughout his life with the Syracuse Alumni Rowing Association, and served as an official for US Rowing. He was active in scouting, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. He served as a past president of the Cornell Hockey Boosters Association and a member of the Ithaca Jaycees. He was active with the Masonic Lodge and the Orange, CT volunteer fire department. He received numerous NAMA awards throughout his long career in advertising. Retirement afforded him the time to become more active in the United Methodist Church, most recently with Northeast United Methodist Church in Columbia.

Mr. Shephard is survived by his wife of over 60 years, Christine (née Peterson); son, Edward Shephard, Jr. (Gary Noce); daughters, Karen Marshall (Peter), Kathleen Sheppard (David), Susan Hait (Andrew), and Jennifer Igawa (Akihiko); brother, Alan P. Shephard; grandchildren, Sarah Ross (Stan), Peter and Brian Marshall, Olivia, Gwen, Emily, and Grace Sheppard, Cristina and Nicole Hait, and Gene and Hugh Igawa; and great-granddaughter, Malaia Marshall.

A memorial service for Mr. Shephard will be held at 1 o'clock, Saturday, January 17, at Northeast United Methodist Church, with The Rev. David W. Day officiating. The family will receive friends following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Central New York Community Fund – SARA Endowment, 431 E. Fayette St., Suite 100, Syracuse, NY 13202 ( https://www.cnycf.org/sara ); to Northside United Methodist Church, 701 Airline Rd., Brewster, MA 02631; or to Northeast United Methodist Church, 4000 Hard Scrabble Rd., Columbia, SC, 29223.