I hope you all had the chance to meet and talk with Ed Rowe who most of us referred to the Tarot Card Guy. We have just been informed that Ed Rowe passed away on New Years Eve. Ed was an integral part of the downtown mall for a very long time. I remember long stories from Ed and I can tell you that Ed was a gifted storyteller, thinker and human being. I hope you all had a chance to meet him.
A memorial service will be held tomorrow, Wednesday January 7th from 5-8pm at the Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar. His family will be present for the event.
For a history of Ed’s incredible life, read Francesco’s story “Interview with Our Favorite Tarot Card Reader.”
[Charlottesville photographer Ryan Arnaudin donated the picture]
Related posts:
- Interview With Our Favorite Tarot Card Reader
- Rest in Peace Jayne McGowan
- Rest in Peace Michael Jackson
Oh my goodness.Does anyone know what happened? Ed was a close friend of mine, and now I’m out of town. I really have great timing.
Rest In Peace, my friend, you will be sorely missed.
That’s very sad.
boooooo, our favorite mallstar. i hope all of you can share some great thoughts about him with his family.
So we lose ed, and gain urban outfitters. 2009 is shaping up to be a suck fest.
RIP
The Death card in tarot = time for a new change
I really enjoyed him and listening to his theories and beliefs. This is deeply saddening.
A great loss indeed. Ed was a very dear soul.
As Ed always said: Everything happens for a reason.
I suggest we celebrate his life as opposed to mourning his death.
Fuck. It’s hard to take my own advice.
Fuck.
I know that Ed had suffered from a stroke in the past, and that he smoked like a chimney…
If anyone is going, tell his family that I wish them the best.
Nick Johnson
(in Jersey)
I didn’t know Ed, and I’m sorry about that, but God DAMN that’s a great photograph.
Oh, this is sad. I’ve read his manifesto (for want of a better word) on Scribd, and really really enjoyed it. Now, if I could just find the link………rest in peace Ed. I’m sorry I never had a chance to let you do a reading for me. Figured you’d always be around the “next time” I was at the Mall. Boo on me
And I agree, fantastic picture.
Oh, this is so sad.
He was a sweet guy, and one of the few people I thought brought life to the downtown mall. I hope he is well-remembered.
Interesting voice too.
Former high-school english teacher as I understand it. Had a ready arsenal of apt quotations from ‘great books’, a bit heavy on Shakespeare for my taste. Good and generous fellow, gracious and so very pleasant in conversation. Getting QUITE tired of losing pals this way, quite tired of losing our more exotic and welcome Mall-denizens, Mall-Stars.
Thanks to Bill Hunt for organizing the memorial and Twisted Branch for hosting it.
Hoping it will be as toneful and gentle as that held by Kurt at Dust for Phil G.
@12: the manifesto can be read on Francesco’s interview with Ed (at the bottom of the post):
http://cvillain.com/2008/07/16/interview-with-our-favorite-tarot-card-reader/
“[Charlottesville photographer Ryan Arnaudin donated the picture]”
does this mean it is permissible to use it w/o explicit permission (if i wanted to print a copy for my files, for example, or send along to out-of town pals of Ed) so long as we don’t make money with it or fail to attribute?
I used to sit and talk to Ed for a long time until he shooed me away. After an hour of talking, he used to say it was “time to look mystical and make some money.”
Talking with Ed meant more to me than he probably knew. He would tell me things I didn’t understand at the time, but as time went on, I realized were very true. He was the wisest kind of wise man – the kind who didn’t even know how wise he was.
#12 – here is the link you requested:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/3964249/Ed-Rowe-Travel-Biography
hmmm feisty + bourbon + girl = good combination
This is very sad, indeed.
Ed always told me exactly what I needed to hear when I was walking down the mall in a funk from a career I was not well-suited. He gave me books and print-outs on the changing planetary conditions and encouraged me to trust my intuition. It never ceased to amaze me that I was having intense metaphysical conversations with a tarot reader on the Downtown Mall during a lunch break.
Wonderful story-teller and true magician…Ed, you will be missed.
So true, Ed gave me some really great book recommendations.
My son is heartbroken, he lost a dear friend.
I REALLY need a copy of this photo for my son.
Would Ryan Arnaudin PLEASE respond to this. OR if any of you know Ryan Arnaudin
please ask him to read this.
my son calls Ed his mentor and this would mean so much to him.
HELP!
Hello everyone. My name is Sarah and I am his oldest Daughter. Just to clear up a few details; Dad taught science for 25 years and he loved his students and the people of Charlotte’sville dearly. He passed away on the 3rd of January in the evening. I am so greatful for everyones compliments about my father. He was a very well educated and very kind person. (Ofcourse I am partial.) If anyone needs a picture… There is the link to that picture, and I have some at home. There not as new but your welcome to copies. Just post your email and I will do my best to check this. Youtube has a wonder video of him someone made which can be found by typing his name. Thanks everyone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACCspT65xJ4
I am unable to get to the link, correctly.
Sarah, knowing how sad you are. If I could get a copy of the above photo for my son. I would be so grateful.
Please let me know if and how this could happen.
I am so sorry from your lost.
C.C.
I meant
I am so sorry for your loss. As you know. lots of folks loved and learned from your Dad.
He talked quite a bit about his children.
My son would know more as he made special trips to talk to his “mentor” Ed.
My son Penn, tried not to cry in front of me. Ed died on Penn’s 16th birthday.
Sad.
Just out of curiosity, does anyone know how/why Ed went from teaching school to hustling fortunes on the mall?
@29, Read his bio.
I’m Jess rowe(Ed’s middle daughter) and I am trying to get this photo up; sorry if it doesn’t work.
Test two
[IMG]http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/superllama44/ed1.jpg[/IMG]
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x69/superllama44/ed1.jpg
try this link
I spent many hours chatting with Ed over the years. He was an amazing man. It’s sad to know he’s gone. I’m a little late to find out and wish I had made it to the memorial. His knowledgeable discourse will be sorely missed. I would often go hang out on the mall to play a little banjo and just talk. I actually just lent Ed a book (Snow Crash) which I hope he had a chance to read before he passed (since it’s a really good book).
Jessica – I’m sorry for you (and your siblings) loss. Your Dad was a real mensch and one of only a few people I would always take the time to spend time with. He was a little different (as I’m sure you know) and he was a bright light in the world, one that will be missed deeply.
Hi I am one of Ed’s sister. It has been comforting to read all the wonderful stories everyone is sharing.
He was a gentle soul out in the harsh world, I know he made a difference…
I am sorry for Ed’s family, and sorry for our town to lose such an awesome human. Thanks, Ed, for your advice and insight. I am glad you were a part of my life and am better for it. Rest in peace.
This saddens me deeply. Ed and I had an “appointment” to finish up my reading. He was extremely gifted and generous with his wisdom. I hope to dream of him and find out what he still had to tell me.
Wow…I always talked to him at school and at the mall when I saw him. This is so sad. I love tarot cards and hopefully I can carry on his legacy somewhat…<3
hey ernestina, I’m the photographer and someone just showed me your response. I’m like a year late but this person was concerned so if you still want to get ahold of me you can send me a message on flickr or email me at my last name at gmail.com.
Thanks for commenting Ryan, I’ve forwarded your response to Ernestina’s e-mail address. Hopefully she will contact you back.
hi Edgar John Rowe Jr. was my father I actualy remember him say a lot of the things mentioned he always said that he smoked like a chimeny in fact he would actualy roll his own cigarettes and he actualy died on January 3rd I also hope you got a chance to talk to him some of his stories were hilarious
Hi Daniel. Your father was a good friend of mine, he was an inspiration, teacher, and counselor to lots of people. He was (and always will be) loved by many.