05/15/2026
Rest in Peace Lucy.
We are saddened by the passing of our dear friend Lucy Edwards. Lucy was involved at the CAC for decades as a teacher, student, exhibiting artist, and friend. We enjoyed her zest for life and the creative process and are grateful for the memories of her that will carry on here for many years to come. We anticipate that a Celebration of Life for Lucy will be held at the CAC sometime this fall. We will share more details when they are available. Below is a more complete obituary that Lucy's family has written and we are happy to share.
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Lucille Edwards (1928-2026)
Lucille Edwards, 98, passed away peacefully on May 5th at Lankenau Hospital near her home in Bala Cynwyd. Lucy, as most people knew her, was born in Long Beach, Long Island in 1928, the fourth daughter of Claire and Louis Edwards, joining sisters Joyce, Irene, and Gloria. The Edwards’ son Harvey was born soon after Lucy. Her father was mayor of Long Beach, and in 1939 he was assassinated by a disgruntled antisemitic policeman.
Lucy was a fierce and mighty creative person. She earned a BA in art and education at Bard College, later studying painting and life drawing for two years at the Art Institute of Chicago. In the mid 50’s, she took her first wheel throwing clay classes at Washburn University in Kansas. By the early 1970’s, she came to focus most on ceramics. Always experimenting and inquiring, she specialized in sculptural and functional organic and animal forms in stoneware with a variety of earthy glazes. Some of her finest work was in raku, pit fired and smoked. Exhibiting widely in the Philadelphia area and beyond, she produced work at home, at her river studio Loafer’s Glory in Gladwyne, and at the Community Arts Center in Wallingford. Lucy remained vital and devoted to her art practice into her 90’s, continuing to make pottery and ceramic sculpture until a few weeks before she passed.
Early in her career, she taught art and music at pre-schools in Powelton, Germantown and Ardmore. Later she went on to teach at other progressive schools and adult art centers. Whatever age group she taught, she always insisted that the arts could open the mind and free the spirit. She played guitar and banjo in the American folk music tradition, introducing her students and her own children to music by singers like Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, Judy Collins, Phil Ochs, and Bob Dylan. She sewed clothes for her daughters in their school days and knitted a vast array of sweaters, hats, and colorful “yarnscapes” for friends, family and customers.
She is survived by her five loving children. Four children came from her first marriage, to Gerald Osterweil: Wendy, Daniel, Kenneth, and Pamela. From her second marriage, to Arthur Kravitz, she had her son Andrew. All inherited her creative energy, independence and love of music. Later, she had a long-term relationship with the wood sculptor Richard Hopner. Her third marriage, to Russ O’Brien, lasted until he died in 2015. She cherished her grandchildren Leo Osterweil, Natalie Jade Parun, Brent and James Kravitz. She was also fortunate to know her great grandchildren Andre Osterweil as well as Enoch, Indigo and Nova Lee Kravitz.
