Edward Arthur Cannon

Edward Arthur Cannon, also known as “Bing”, of Mathews, VA, passed away at age 85 on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at Riverside Lifelong Health & Rehabilitation in Mathews, VA.

Born on May 3, 1941, in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, Ed was the son of Arthur and Amy Cannon. In his youth, he took great pleasure in visiting the New Jersey coastline and rowing, which is likely where his love of the water began. He also loved horseback riding. After graduating from Upsala College in New Jersey, Ed joined the U.S. Navy. As a Lt. Commander, he served two years in the Vietnam War and sailed around the world. After the war, he did cryptography for NATO while stationed in Virginia Beach, VA. There he met his true love, Michael, whom he would marry a year later, beginning their 58 years of a joyful marriage.

Ed went on to earn his Master's Degree in Environmental Science at the University of Virginia. In 1970, he began a career teaching English and English Literature and coaching men’s crew at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, VA. An incredibly gifted teacher, Ed was loved and heralded by students, parents, and colleagues for his outstanding instruction and mentorship. In his 36 years of teaching and coaching, Ed was honored with numerous awards, including two Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Education awards and the All Metropolitan Rowing Coach of the Year by the Washington Post. An inspiring and successful coach, his teams accrued an impressive array of medals and trophies. An article by the Alexandria Crew Boosters Club stated, “Ed always said that the greatest thing about coaching was the metamorphosis he witnessed each season and through the years. He was able to encourage and observe young people change from being somewhat insecure about themselves to discovering who they were and realizing their full potential. He also loved observing how they would continue to bloom into wonderful and strong people. That was Ed’s joy”.

Ed’s faith was important to him. While living in Falls Church, VA, he found opportunities to serve God and his community through the John Calvin Presbyterian Church, and then continued in Mathews at Central United Methodist Church. When he and his wife Michael retired, they were thrilled to find the wonderful Chesapeake Bay town of Mathews, VA, and a home on the water. There, Ed volunteered delivering meals with Meals on Wheels and later became a central part of the Friends of the Library Bookstore. For 13 years, he was loved and respected by the bookstore customers, in part due to his dry humor and his knowledge of books in almost every genre. He was so loved and cherished by his wife, Michael Ann Cannon; sons, Noah and Luke; and daughters-in-law, Dee and Anna.

A celebration of his life will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, July 18, 2026, at Faulkner Funeral Homes, Foster-Faulkner Chapel, Mathews, with a reception to follow afterwards at Central United Methodist Church, 121 Church St., Mathews, VA 23109.