Edwin J. Cann, Jr., 69, of Northford, passed away peacefully on Oct. 10 at Yale New Haven Hospital. Born in New Haven on Oct. 25, 1951, son of the late Edwin J. Cann, Sr., and Florence Lupoli Cann, Ed was a 1970 graduate of North Branford High School, where he was an all-league tight end on the football team. He is best remembered for scoring the only touchdown in a 6-0 win against Hillhouse, which many sports writers called the biggest upset of the 1969 high school season.

He worked for 48 years in the Maintenance and Custodial Department for the North Branford Board of Education and will be remembered for his quiet demeanor and intelligent conversation across a broad range of subjects. He enjoyed many happy Friday and Saturday nights watching 1930s to ‘70s movies and TV shows together with his brother and two nephews. Ed was a lifelong NY Giants fan, deep thinker, writer, and an excellent photographer. He had amassed a 60-year history of his family through photographs, in addition to many of the natural settings of New England’s woods and fields, where he spent much time as a lover of nature and animals.

He leaves behind his brother Louis, nephews Jason and Quintin (Victoria), and niece Aubrey (Nick), as well as his cats, Kitty and Blackie. He was predeceased by his brother Donald Cann.

Family and friends are invited to meet at 1:45 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 14, directly at the office of All Saints Cemetery, 700 Middletown Avenue, North Haven, and can follow the funeral procession to the graveside for a 2 p.m. service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter, 749 E. Main Street, Branford, CT 06405. The Havens Family, North Haven Funeral Home, 36 Washington Avenue, has been entrusted with the arrangements. For his online obituary, please visit www.northhavenfuneral.com.