Edward W. Knappman, 67, of Melbourne Beach, Florida, and Higganum, died March 10 in Melbourne Beach, Florida, from an infection of unknown origin that proved resistant to antibiotics (MRSA). He was the husband of Elizabeth Frost-Knappman. Edward was born in Englewood, New Jersey, on Nov. 17, 1943, the only son of Rena Carpentier and William Knappman. He was president of New England Publishing Associates, Inc. (NEPA), a literary agency specializing in non-fiction books, with offices in Chester. Edward worked for over 20 years with his wife Elizabeth until they retired in 2010 after selling their business to Roger Williams, president of the Publish or Perish Agency.

In his twenties, Edward played vigorous roles in both the civil rights and anti-war movements. He went to the South as part of the student army that sought to register black voters in 1963-1964, and later he helped to launch part of the anti-LBJ movement, serving as press spokesman for the Kennedy/Fulbright Committee, which sought to block President Lyndon Johnson's re-nomination in 1968.

A graduate of George Washington University (BA 1965) and Columbia School of Journalism (MS 1966), Edward also completed coursework for an MA in history at the City College of New York in 1967.

Prior to 1990, Edward was publisher and executive vice president of Facts On File. There he initiated, planned, and executed that company’s move from subscription services into reference book publishing, personally acquiring some 400 reference titles. He also launched Facts On File’s British operation, conceived and developed two of its periodical services, and supervised Facts on File’s editorial, marketing, production, electronic publishing, and computer services department.

Edward was the author of Great American Trials (Gale Research, 1994; 2002), Great World Trials (Gale Research, 1996), Sex, Sin and Mayhem: Notorious Trials of the 1990’s, (Visible Ink Press, 1995); American Trials of the 20th Century (Visible Ink, 1995); American Jobs Abroad (Thompson Gale, 1994);  Courtroom Drama (U.X.L. 1997); Great World Trials (Thompson Gale, 1997), and several other books. He was also a member of the Association of Author’s Representatives, the Connecticut Press Club, and other industry organizations.

Besides his wife, Edward is survived by his daughter, Amanda Lee Frost Knappman.

Contributions in his memory may be made to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.