Ed Andrews, III

Ed Andrews, III, age 78, of Fallston, Maryland, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 25, 2025.

Born in Winchester, Virginia, Ed was the beloved son of the late Hiram Edward Andrews, Jr. and the late Ruth Belle (Holter) Andrews. A Vietnam veteran, Ed served his country with honor. He carried that same sense of dedication and integrity throughout his life.

Ed Andrews spent his early childhood on his family farm in Front Royal, Virginia where he had fond memories of exploring nature and cooking with family. After moving to Kingsville, MD, Ed attended and graduated from St. Paul’s School and later went on to attend The University of Maryland at College Park, where he earned his B.A. in History in 1968.

After graduating, Ed was drafted into the Army and served valiantly in the Vietnam conflict, where he earned three purple hearts and numerous medals of valor including silver and bronze stars. After being discharged from service, Ed spent two years traveling the world, collecting stories of the places and people he encountered. He spent time working on an oil rig in the North Sea, as a hand on a fishing boat in Scotland, and on a game reserve in South Africa.

Ed served as a Capitol Hill police officer in the special forces division in Washington D.C. while he pursued his Juris Doctorate from American University, earning it in 1973. He was a member of the Pennsylvania and Maryland Bar Associations and began his career in earnest as a public defender for the City of Baltimore, where he tried several high-profile cases. He later moved to Bel Air, where he settled with his family and established a thriving private practice that served the community for over 40 years. In addition to this work, Ed served as the Harford County Council attorney for many years and took on countless pro bono cases. His charity and compassion truly set him apart, as an attorney and as a human. He was an active member in local politics and ran for political office.

Ed was a collector of everything. He appreciated books, art, and antiques and had impressive collections of each. He was a gourmet cook and the consummate host. He was a history buff with a particular interest in Early American and military history. Ed was always up for an adventure, whether that was climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro or learning to snowboard in his 50’s. He was finally able realize a lifelong dream of renovating his historic estate over the past decade.

The only thing more important than serving his community was taking care of his family. Ed was a truly devoted friend, husband, father, and grandfather. Because of his playful spirit children and animals adored him almost as much as he adored them. He had an infectious laugh, an impish smirk and mischievous twinkle in his eye. Ed was a pillar of his community, the support that held his family together, and the life of the party. He was larger than life.

Ed is survived by his devoted wife, Irene M. Padilla; his loving daughter, Heather Mohalski and her husband, Matthew; and his cherished grandsons, Eliot and Jack Mohalski. He is also survived by his sister, Sandra Alvarez, and his niece, Melanie Gambill.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Ed’s memory to the Humane Society of Harford County, a cause close to his heart.