Savage Lawyer and Fly Fisherman Dies at 79
Edward ‘Eddie’ Turney Savage, age 79, former resident of Westfield, NJ, and New York, NY, passed away on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, NJ, surrounded by loved ones.
Born on February 14, 1946, to the late Arthur Turney and Katrine T. Savage, Eddie was a beloved son, grandson, brother, and uncle, as well as a dedicated Navy Officer in Vietnam, a formidable New York City lawyer, and a passionate outdoorsmen and fisherman. He will always be remembered as a generous and benevolent friend to all who knew him, with a sharp-wit, cheerful demeanor, and capacious sense of humour.
After graduating from The Pingry School in 1964, Ed followed in his father’s footsteps by attending Amherst College (‘68), serving in the military, and earning his JD from Harvard Law School (‘74). He worked as a contract lawyer for Reed Smith up until his retirement in 2015, and often offered pro bono services to those in need. When Ed was not diligently practicing law, he preferred to be surrounded by nature, casting a fishing line from the center of the cascading Madison River of Yellowstone National Park, where he was surrounded by the serene snow peaked mountains, towering spruce trees, and awe-inspiring wildlife, such as elk, deer, moose, and bison.
At a young age, Ed’s father instilled in him a deep love of the outdoors, taking him across country, inspiring him as a rock collector, camper, boy scout, and fisherman. Some of Ed’s fondest memories were those shared in nature with his father, spending time with his mother, and taking his loved ones fishing. Anyone who has had the pleasure of meeting Ed would remember him as a man of his word and one who strived for integrity in all he did. He was a staunch constitutionalist, who deeply valued honesty and authenticity and always inspired those he loved to embrace these virtues in their own lives. Additionally, Ed was an active member of the Amherst Alumni Association up until his passing and will be remembered by many beloved college friends.
Ed is survived by his sisters, Sharon Lee Savage and Katrine Savage Ojakian. His niece and nephews with whom he was exceedingly close: niece, Katrine Singhbaba, and nephews, Edward Singhbaba and wife, Tina, and Turney Singhbaba and wife, Sonia. He has also left behind 9 adored nieces and nephews, to whom he was more like a grandfather: Theodore, Elara, Athena, Logan, Emilia, Jonathan, Jaison, Jayden, and Chloe.
Services will be held this Saturday 9/27 at Camp David, 928 Owassa Rd. Newton, NJ at 1:00 p.m.
