Edward Henry Bloomfield

Edward Henry Bloomfield was born on May 24, 1938 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Orange, California.  He was the only child of Henry and Mabel Bloomfield, who moved from Arkansas to California in the 1920s.  Growing up, he had 28 aunts and uncles and 60 first cousins, who fortified his foundation and who he loved dearly.  He attended Excelsior High School, and graduated from Whittier College, where he earned the Woodrow Wilson Fellowship that sent him to Harvard.  He graduated from Harvard Divinity School and earned his Ph.D. in Philosophy from Claremont Graduate School. 

It was at Excelsior High School where he met Veronica Little. Self-described “late bloomers,” they were friends for several years before getting married on April 22, 1968. There were 700 people in attendance. Ed and Veronica were married for 54 years.  For seven years, they had many adventures, including a three-month sojourn across Europe.  In 1973, they welcomed their only daughter, Veronica Elizabeth. From that moment on they were a close-knit family, sharing their love of travel, hosting events, and great conversations with her.  VE and her father loved playing hide and seek, baking, reading books, and performing “operas” together. He always supported her personal and academic interests. So much of who she is was shaped by her father’s influence.

Ed was ordained in 1966 at Plymouth Congregational Church in Whittier.  He went on to serve as youth director at the United Methodist Church of Artesia, where he enjoyed working with the Methodist Youth Fellowship (MYF).  He was Assistant Minister at Hillcrest Church for 25 years.  He enjoyed many wonderful times there including Great Gallamaufries, the Art Festival, and friendships that lasted a lifetime. He went on to become Minister of Visitation at the First Congregational Church of Long Beach for another 19 years where he greatly enjoyed the liberal theology of Revs. Stinson & Tigner.  He performed many baptisms, marriages, and memorial services throughout his career and was especially known for infusing humor as part of his ministry and outreach.

Ed was hired in 1969 as a fulltime instructor of Philosophy at Cerritos College where he worked for 35 years.  He taught Logic, Ethics, World Religions, Introduction to Philosophy, and the Philosophy of Cultural Diversity.  He won many awards including Outstanding Faculty of the Year and was the first faculty member to be inducted into the Cerritos College Hall of Fame.  He was known for tea parties, hosting open houses at the end of each semester, and promoting the phrase, “Why have a meeting when you can have a party?”

Ed & Veronica were a dynamic duo. Being married as best friends brought many happy moments.  They enjoyed traveling the world together, hosting dinner parties, attending the theatre with dear friends, and many croquet parties in the back yard. They were a couple truly dedicated to one another’s well-being and had great admiration for one another as individuals.

In 2006, grandson Henry was born. They have shared a special bond from the moment they met.  Grandpa and Henry enjoyed reading books together, watching Jeopardy, and cooking the annual Thanksgiving turkey. Grandpa was always proud of Henry’s character and supported him with lots of unconditional love.

Ed was an avid reader who loved books, bookstores, libraries, and the pursuit of knowledge. He spent many hours listening to classical music and reading in the living room. He was a proponent of the lifelong pleasure of learning, who often said, “Never be afraid of a new idea.” His theology was relationship based; for him, true communion was being together in community.

Ed had Parkinson’s for many years.  Never complaining, he approached his diagnosis with an existential attitude, “Whatever meaning this has, is the meaning we give to it.”

He took his departure at the Los Alamitos Medical Center, listening to classical music, surrounded by loved ones on August 2, 2021.  His legacy of laughter, good food, good friends, and joie de vivre will live on in all those who love him.