Southbury-

It is with deep reflection and sorrow that we announce the passing of Edwin F. Sparn, who departed this life on July 7, 2025, at the age of 93. Born on December 3, 1931, in Denver Colorado, Edwin—known as "Eddie" to family and "Ed" to many friends—was the beloved son of Ernst Theodore Sparn and Martha Mary (Hayes) Sparn. He was predeceased by his three older brothers, Donald, Theodore, and Richard.

Edwin was widely known and admired for his intellect, sharp wit, linguistic fluency, and insatiable curiosity. He spoke multiple languages, including Thai, Russian, French, and German. A bit of a prankster and a daredevil in his youth, he and his Yale classmate Ted Morgan (the noted French American writer) were members of the "Night Climbers of Yale," famously scaling the George Washington Bridge and university buildings (under cover of darkness).

He graduated from Yale University in 1953 with a degree in English literature and later earned a Master of Arts in Russian language and literature from Columbia University. Shortly thereafter, Edwin enlisted in the U.S. Army and was subsequently recruited by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), where he served three tours in Bangkok, Thailand. He later applied his Russian language expertise in continued support of CIA intelligence efforts. After his government service, Edwin worked as an editor for Grolier Publishing (a division of Scholastic Corporation), where he remained until his retirement at age 67.

Edwin's life was profoundly enriched by his 54-year partnership with Vincent Romeo, Vice President of CBS Records, who predeceased him in 2020. Vincent represented an impressive roster of artists, including Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Cat Stevens, and Rod Stewart, and worked closely with Johnny Mathis, Eddie Albert, and Liza Minnelli. Together, Edwin and Vincent made homes in Manhattan, London, Marrakech, New Milford (CT), and finally, Southbury, CT.

Edwin was also a writer. He published two books, Catbackward and Tales of Marrakech, and was in the process of completing Revolving Doors, a memoir chronicling his and Vincent's vibrant life together.

In this time of loss, we take solace in the extraordinary life Edwin lived—marked by adventure, intellectual passion, enduring love, and a deep appreciation for family, friends, and culture. He is survived by his sister-in-law, Leola (Lee) Sparn, who remained close to him throughout his life as well as many loving nieces, nephews, and extended family members who cherished him deeply.

A Celebration of Life will be held in the Memorial Garden at South Britain Congregational Church, 693 South Britain Road, Southbury, CT, on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at 2:00 PM. There will be a small reception in the Parish House after the service.

Online condolences may be shared at munsonloveterefuneralhome.com. Donations may be made in his memory to South Britain Congregational Church, 693 South Britain Rd, Southbury, CT 06488.