Edward De Maso, Former Chief of Goddard Public Affairs Dies

Edward Mason De Maso, 72, of Centreville, a communications and public relations official, died Aug.16 at Kent and Queen Anne's Hospital in Centreville.

Born in Manhattan, N.Y., he graduated from Iona College in New Rochelle and from Fordham University Graduate School, School of Mass Communications, Institute of Contemporary Russian Studies.

After college, he was drafted by the National Football League, where he played for the New York Giants for two years. During this time he was drafted by the Army and served as a Green Beret Paratrooper in the Korean War.

He started his career in public communications with the Army Corps of Engineers and Radio Free Europe and in the private sector as a copywriter/assistant to the public relations director for R.H. Macy's and Company in New York.

He later became director for public affairs at Goddard and for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. He was also director for marketing services for the Maryland Energy Administration.

Mr. Mason was founder of the radio station WAQA in Grasonville and program manager for the American Heritage Foundation.

At the time of his death, he was president of the Queen Anne's County United Way, and Chairman of the fund-raising committee for a new building.

Funeral services were held Thursday, August 23, 2001 at Christ Church in Stevensville.