Longtime Ajijic resident, novelist, playwright and violinist Ed Vlahov died January 18 at the age of 84.
Born October 19, 1928 on the Rockaway seashore of New York, Vlahov began his violin studies at the age of nine, under famed violin virtuoso Adam Kuryllo. While attending Far Rockaway High School, he became the first freshman violinist to ever be accepted into the prestigious New York City High School Orchestra. While studying at the City College of New York he became an active orchestra member while joining other major orchestras in the New York City metropolitan area and performing in solo concerts.
Vlahov received his degree in Pharmacy with top scholastic honors at Howard University in Washington, D.C. He earned a masters degree at Rutgers University and moved to Canada in 1969, where he reunited with his sister Ilene. There, he met and married Lois Anne Greene and joined the “Shoppers Drug Mart” retail drug chain as an associate, owning and operating two supermarket drugstores in Oakville, Ontario.
Vlahov began writing short stories with the encouragement of his brother-in-law Ed Parker, a noted Canadian journalist. This grew into writing stage plays, Canadian television dramas and short stories for Canadian magazines. After his retirement to Mexico in 1988, he tackled novels, producing six of them and a book of short stories.
Vlahov is preceded in death by his parents, John Vlahov, Susie Mikulas and older brother Bill Vlahov. He leaves behind his beloved Lois Anne, his sister Ilene, brother-in-law Lorne Cryderman, sister-in-law Renee Bruce and nieces Tia Kingston, Ara Parker, Nancy Schickner, Carol Vlahov, Erin Burce-Halstead, Cynthia Bruce-Barrett and nephews Ivor Parker, Dr. Eric Vlahov, and Dr. David Vlahov. He also leaves his chosen Mexican family, Jorge, Sonia, Natalie, Georgi and Danny Ulloa and his many Lakeside friends.
His legacy to those who knew and loved him is in the memories of his good humor, funny stories and giving heart. He wished that there be no memorial or service and asked that you remember “Eddy” when you have your next “te helado.”
Donations can be made in Edward Vlahov’s name to the Mariposa Project by going to www.gomariposa.org.