Austin Edward “Ed” Starbird, 85, died peacefully in his Urbanna home on Friday, Nov.19, 2021.
Shortly after Ed’s birth in Jacksonville, Fla., the family moved to Coral Gables, Fla., where he lived until he joined the U.S. Army in 1954 during the Korean War. He served in Tokyo, Japan as an Army Security Agency cryptologist.
After returning home, he spent two years at the University of Florida majoring in Economics. It was there working on a university newsletter that he discovered his love for the newspaper business.
He became a journeyman printer, and for 20 years worked at several major metropolitan newspapers, including the “New York Times,” “Newsday,” and the “Washington Star.”
Ed went from newspapers to magazines in 1979 when he moved from Mananas to Huntington, Long Island and began working for a Manhattan publisher. Later he worked at General Electric then Time Inc. setting up in-house, four-color separation systems for all their pre-press needs.
The Taunton Press in Newtown, Conn., publisher of “Fine Cooking,” “Fine Woodworking,” “Fine Homebuilding,” (just three of their many publications) hired Ed in 1987 as pre-press manager. Toward the end of his 13 years there, Ed turned an old stove into a backyard smoker and began perfecting his hot-smoked salmon technique. Rave reviews led to the five-page article, “Hot-Smoking Your Own Salmon” by Ed Starbird in “Fine Cooking” magazine. Ed then decided that he wanted to turn the backyard smoking into a professional, state-of-the-art wholesale business.
Then Ed discovered Urbanna and knew it was the place he wanted build his business and spend the rest of his life. Sea Smoke Inc. was constructed in what was then Dozier’s Marina. It was only Ed and his wife in a seven-day a week operation, Ed delivering to restaurants, caterers, wine and cheese shops, and Dickies Seafood, who distributed to Ukrops stores.
After he sold Sea Smoke in 2004 he was more active in town politics, going to town hall meetings, and volunteering to spend weekend days at the old tobacco warehouse welcoming visitors. He loved telling of the town’s history and showing them the famous Mitchell Map and other artifacts.
Ed grew up loving the sea, fishing with his dad in Florida waters, swimming, boating — especially sail boating. He sailed the Chesapeake Bay with his children in the early 1970s, and later, after purchasing a 40-footer, explored the Long Island Sound with his wife. He also loved golfing.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry C. and Thelma M. Starbird; sister, Christine Wedemeyer; son, Austin Edward Starbird Jr.; and his wife’s son (he disliked the word stepchild) Edward “Ted” Billington Toth.
He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Robin Starbird; deceased son Austin E. Starbird Jr.’s son, Austin; son Harry C. Starbird (Marie), Harry’s daughter, Diana M. Starbird; son, Arthur W. Starbird (Angie), their children, Callie and Cole; daughter, Christine Love, her children, David, Adil, and Layla; Robin’s deceased son Ted’s children, Heather Toth Rinderle and Amanda Toth Holt; her son, Anthony “Tony” P. Toth, his son Derek and granddaughter Skye Toth; her daughter, Anne Toth Tillett (Ed), and her son, Christopher J. Raiser.
Honoring Ed’s wishes, there will be no public memorial ceremonies. The destination of his ashes is yet to be decided. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Middlesex County Volunteer Rescue Squad.
