Ed was born on June 14, 1934 to Ellis and Matilda Tocker in Baltimore, MD. He was the middle brother to Stanley Tocker and Howard Tocker. His family stressed a strong work ethic with great emphasis on education. He married high school sweetheart, Myra Caplan, while attending Penn State University, graduating with a degree in engineering. Married life began in Cleveland, OH as a ceramic engineer, while welcoming first born son Allan. The urge to return to Baltimore remained strong and Ed and Myra soon moved back to Baltimore where second son, Michael was born. Ed continued his education at George Washington Law School, attending night classes while commuting by train between Baltimore and Washington DC. He continued to work full- time and raised, with Myra, their two children.

Upon graduating law school, Ed and family moved to Wilmington, DE in 1964 to work for DuPont Company as a patent attorney. In Wilmington, Ed and Myra welcomed their third son, Joel. While living in Wilmington, Ed became involved in the community. He joined the synagogue, Adas Kodesch Shel Emeth where he remains a member to this day. He also served on the board of Green Acres in North Wilmington where the family resided. He was an avid volleyball player and golfer. Ed stayed in Wilmington until 1979 when he accepted a position in the DuPont Foreign Patent office in Geneva, Switzerland. Ed returned to Wilmington after just a few years when Myra became ill and subsequently passed away in 1982.

Ed remarried in May of 1983 to Lenore Epstein Segal and they have been married for 43 years. Ed became stepfather to Lenore’s daughters Debbie Hayden and Lisa Segal. Ed retired from DuPont in 1998 and continued to consult for DuPont/Chemours filing and reviewing patents, agreement and opinion work, and advising management on patent law issues. His consultantship lasted 16 years; a testament to Ed’s skill and technical acumen required in preparing a patent filing.

Ed was known by all for his easy-going personality, intelligence, caring, ability to digest and retain complicated subject matter, love of travel, and love of family. Before computers, Ed’s best weapon was a number 2 pencil, which he used quickly and effortlessly to fill a legal pad or help with the kid’s homework. It was once observed that computers slowed him down. Ed continued navigating with maps instead of GPS and was known for his incredible sense of direction. During later years, Ed was in constant search of the tastiest food and the perfect crab cake.

While Ed loved being a father, he truly enjoyed being a grandfather to Melody, Justice, Jesse, Marcy, Samantha, Ryan, Aaron, Zachary, Rachel, Erica, and David and great-grandfather to Jackson, Tobin, Zara, and Shane. Ed enjoyed sharing simchas with family including birthday parties, B’nai Mitzvot, college graduations, and weddings.

Funeral services will be 2:00 pm, Tuesday, September 22, 2026 at the Jewish Community Cemetery, 401 Foulk Road, Wilmington, DE 19803. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Adas Kodesh Shel Emeth, 2412 Pennsylvania Avenue, Wilmington, DE 19806, where Ed was a member for more than 60 years.