On the recent passing of Ed Groome

The art world has lost a familiar presence with the recent death of Ed Groome. Ed and his wife, the painter Martha Groome, were always present at every art opening of note, and many that were pretty obscure. They would travel sometimes enormous distances to be part of an opening. It was not unusual to go to see a friend’s show at some little gallery at the end of the last road on a peninsula and find Ed and Martha already there. Their presence was generous moral support that artists greatly appreciated.

Unlike many of us, Ed was good in rooms full of people. It was a comfort to see him in a crowd of strangers, to know that there was someone there who was easy to talk to and talk with. He  had a satchel full of stories of the sometimes odd behavior of his many friends in and out of the art crowd, and would share them easily.  He lent his affable presence and moral support to these sometimes difficult events, making them easier and better than they otherwise would have been.

He will be greatly missed.