Edward S. Hinge, 79, died at home with family members at his side on Friday, November 20, 2009. Ed was born in Utica on July 9, 1930, the son of Edward W. and Gertrude Shanley Hinge. When he was a boy, his family moved from Utica to Barneveld. Later in his life he moved back to Barneveld and resided there for the past 43 years. After proudly working as a gandy dancer (section laborer) for the New York Central Railroad while in high school, Ed was graduated from Holland Patent Central High School in 1949, where he was president of his class. He attended Utica College for several years. As a young man, Ed worked in sales and management positions for a number of local industrial companies, including Rome Iron Mills and Revere Copper and Brass. He also owned and operated the K-B Barbecue in Frankfort from 1952 to 1955. Ed married the former Jacqueline Baque on September 15, 1956. Shortly before the birth of their first son, Ed and Jackie started the Hinge Construction Company, later renamed the Hinge Corporation. For more than 40 years, the family-run company provided commercial, institutional and residential construction services. An offshoot company, Barneveld Homes, was the developer of the Hayes Circle subdivision in Barneveld. Over the years, their company built and renovated many Friendly Ice Cream stores and Nice 'n Easy convenience stores throughout the Northeast, and maintained and upgraded buildings at Hamilton College and the Munson Williams Proctor Institute. Ed was a local pioneer in building energy conservation; he built several super-insulated houses and related structures, including the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Utica, in the late 1970s and 1980s. He also served as a mentor to scores of young men who worked for his construction company over the years. A strong believer in giving back to his community, Ed was active in numerous local organizations. Ed served as President of the Mohawk Valley Home Builders Association, and for five years was on the Holland Patent Board of Education. He served on the board of Catholic Social Services for fourteen years, and was on the board of Greater Utica Hospice for nine years. He was a trustee of St. Ann's Catholic Church in Hinckley and was active in the Unitarian Church of Barneveld. He spearheaded the renovation of Unity Hall in Barneveld and was the first president of the Unity Hall Foundation. He often spoke about going to events at Unity Hall from the time he was a boy, accompanying his father to presentations there by the Women's Christian Temperance Union and other events. A lifelong learner, Ed loved to readnewspapers, magazines, fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. He was an amateur historian on various local issuesincluding the Erie Canal, on which Ed's father had spent his career operating a steam crane, and the Oneida Community, where Ed was a docent at the Mansion House. He was a member of the Little Thinkers. Until the end, he remained inquisitive and eager to learn. Ed cherished his family. He took delight in his sons' activities and accomplishments, and was always there to provide guidance, a helping hand, or at times, some gentle or not-so-gentle course correction. In more recent years, he loved spending time with his grandchildren. His last two years were filled with visits from his sons, daughters-in- law, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends. Ed is survived by his beloved wife of 53 years, Jacqueline; his brother Bill and sister-in-law Suzanne of Barneveld; sisters-in-law Dolores LaSalle and her husband Joe, of New Hartford, and Kathleen Andrews of Mineola, NY, four sons and daughters-in-law, Edward and Maria of Fairport, NY, Adam and Kathleen of Tarrytown, NY, Joseph and Jodie of Raleigh, NC, and John and Concepcion of South Orange, NJ; six grandchildren, Margaret, Edward (Ned), Tibor, Brigitta, Angelica, and Emily Jacqueline; and a step granddaughter, Madeleine. He was predeceased by his sister Elizabeth "Betty" Haskell and her husband Glen, also of Barneveld, and brother-in-law Henry Andrews of Mineola, NY. The family would like to thank those who gave him such loving care over the past two years, especially Teri Arthur, Sherry Carcone, Laurie Fitzsimmons and Becky Way; and also Kathy Smyth of Hospice Care. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Edward S. and Jacqueline Baque Hinge Fund at the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties, Inc. Relatives and friends are invited to join Edwards family in a celebration of his life on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at Unity Hall 101 Vanderkamp Ave Barneveld, NY. Calling hours for family and friends are Monday from 2:00-4:00 and 7:00-9:00 at the Heintz Funeral Home 408 Herkimer Rd., N. Utica.