“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.”
Muhammad Ali
Edward F. Tancer, November 22, 2020
We are deeply saddened by the sudden and tragic loss of our colleague and dear friend, Ed Tancer, who passed away unexpectedly on November 22, 2020. Ed was an outstanding attorney, who went above and beyond for both his clients and Gunster. Ed was a tremendous community leader and had a special calling to help the less fortunate. Ed’s mission in life was to make a positive impact on every person he met and to help as many people as possible. Ed will be remembered for his great accomplishments as a lawyer, his passion for our community and his devotion to his family and friends. Ed will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
For nearly a decade, Ed practiced law with Gunster. During this tenure, Ed also mentored many young attorneys, counseled senior lawyers, and positively impacted our firm. Prior to working with Gunster, he served as General Counsel for NextEra Energy, Inc. where he also leaves behind numerous former colleagues with whom he shared deep friendships and had a similar impact and legacy.
Our community has also lost a great leader and humanitarian. Friends and business leaders across the state describe Ed as an altruistic, selfless giver who understood the immense impact of a good deed. Countless individuals and organizations have thrived and succeeded because of his genuine desire to bring joy to others.
Among the organizations that he gave of his time and talent to are the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County, Quantum House, Place of Hope and The Lord’s Place, all of which were near and dear to him. Other organizations in which he was instrumental in making a difference include the American Heart Association, Bella’s Angels, the Children’s Home Society of Florida, Gulf Stream Council/Boy Scouts of America, The Honda Classic, The Children’s Healthcare Charity and United Way of Palm Beach County.
Ed was born in West Palm Beach, Florida, and graduated from the University of Florida with both his undergraduate and law degrees. His desire to give back led him to active involvement in numerous civic organizations, including Leadership Florida, the Florida Chamber Foundation, the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County and the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce. His success in business was not just a result of his involvement in these organizations, but the relationships he developed and his passion for making his community a better place.
Ed leaves behind his loving family whom he adored, wife, Susan Kellman Tancer, son, Harrison, and daughter Leah.
Ed was the best of us, and we will never forget him.
To honor his generous spirit and legacy as a leader in our community, The Ed Tancer Scholarship Fund has been established as an endowed scholarship at the University of Florida. The Ed Tancer Scholarship Fund will award annual scholarships to support undergraduate Political Science students that reflect some of Ed’s best personal characteristics, including volunteerism and community service. Eligible candidates for the scholarship will be interviewed and selected by Susan, Harrison and Leah Tancer.
To donate to The Ed Tancer Scholarship Fund, visit UFgive.to/EdTancerFund