Edgar Danciger

Edgar Danciger, a longtime resident of Jacksonville, died on Sunday, April 15, 2012 ending 94 years of a remarkable life. Reared in Riga, Latvia, Ed was a U.S. military veteran, a lifelong sailor, and a renowned industrialist. Ed cherished the United States of America because, as he said, "it provided me a home, opportunity, and freedom." His story is unique.

Ed learned to sail on the Baltic Sea as a young man, and following his mandatory service in the Latvian army, he left his native land for work in international merchant shipping. In search of freedom and unable to speak English, Ed "jumped ship" in Boston harbor in 1939 with neither money nor luggage. He initially found work as a lumberman and a dishwasher. Dissatisfied with life underground and aiming to contact his family, Ed returned to sea for the attractive compensation offered seamen willing to serve in the Atlantic Ocean war zone. He became a chief gunner in the British merchant fleet, once evacuating British troops in the Battle of Dunkirk, as he fought off Nazi Stuka dive-bombers.

Separated from his family by the Soviet occupation of Latvia in World War II, Ed made his second voyage to the United States in 1941. His dream of citizenship now became true, as he immigrated via Cuba with the support of many kind strangers. Settling in New York City, his elation was tempered by the reality he was truly alone, as his family had been deported to Siberia.

An accomplished ship rigger full of ambition and wit, Ed had no difficulty finding employment in the shipping industry on City Island, N.Y. He also pursued a formal engineering education at Pratt Institute of Technology in Brooklyn, N.Y., before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1944. Trained locally at Camp Blanding, Ed served both overseas and in the Pentagon as a master sergeant and intelligence specialist, utilizing his German and Russian language skills.

In 1947, Ed returned to civilian life in the northeast to begin his long and notable career in the rigging, splicing and manufacturing of wire rope. By day, he worked full time as a plant manager for Sunbury Wire Rope and later for Paulsen Wire Rope. By night he attended more engineering classes, both at Bucknell and the Polytechnic Institute of New York University. Ed also started a family, he raced sailboats on weekends, and he sought the American dream of owning his own business.

Convinced of the profit opportunity for a new building material, Pre-Stressed Concrete Strand, Ed founded the Florida Wire and Cable Company ("FWC") in 1958, relocating to Jacksonville with his young family to start a business in a city he believed had many strategic advantages. Ed designed and built the plant"s original manufacturing equipment himself. FWC was the nation"s leading manufacturer of PC Strand for more than 20 years, and Ed retired from the business in 1988 as one of the industry"s true visionaries.

Ed and his wife, Agnes, enjoyed world travel, particularly long winter stints at Man-O-War Cay in the Abaco BahamasA' a favorite sailing and fishing destination. Throughout his life, Ed enjoyed competitive offshore ocean sailing, skippering races in countless regattas throughout the east coast and across the Gulf of Mexico.

Ed was a longtime member of the Florida Yacht Club, the New York Yacht Club, the Storm Trysail Club, and the Cruising Club of America. He served the local community in many capacities including board work for the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, Junior Achievement, Salvation Army, and Bartram School. In 2005, the Wire Association International honored Ed with the Mordica Award in recognition of his contributions to the knowledge base of the wire and cable industry. In 1987 Ed established The Edgar Danciger Endowed Scholarship fund at the University of North Florida to benefit students majoring in mechanical engineering.

Preceded in death by his parents, siblings and wife, Evelyn, Ed is survived by his wife of 21 years, Agnes Ellis Danciger; son, Gary W. Danciger (Molly Mitchell Danciger) and their three daughters, Anna, Audrey and Kate; son, Daniel F. Danciger (Wendy) and their daughter, Taylor Danciger, and son Brendan Fusco. Ed is also survived by his stepchildren Margaret G. Barton (Thomas Kimbrough); Quinn R. Barton, III (Elizabeth) and their two daughters, Lily and Ella; Ellis C. Barton (Stacey) and their two children, Emily and Chase Evans; and David A. Barton (Susanna) and their two children, Ben and Marley; and goddaughter Eva Dahlstrom.

A service to celebrate Ed"s life will be held at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Jacksonville, 7405 Arlington Expressway. See www.uujax.org for directions. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Edgar Danciger Endowed Scholarship, University of North Florida, 1 UNF Drive, Jacksonville, FL 33224.

Please visit our online Tribute at www.quinn-shalz.com.

Services under the direction and care of Quinn-Shalz, A Family Funeral Home, Jacksonville Beach, Fla.