edward collymore

A CHAMPION BOTH ON AND OFF THE TRACK.

Edward Leon Collymore (1938-2023) was born in Cambridge to Percival and Eulah (Johnson) Collymore. Eddie grew up on Kinnaird Street and attended Houghton Grammar and Rindge Technical High schools, setting numerous Rindge running records. In his senior year the track team competed in the 1955 National High School Championship: Ed won the 440-meter, and the team won the championship. He received a full scholarship from Villanova University and enrolled with his fellow Rindge athletes Charlie Jenkins and Charley Stead; Ed recalled that they were known as “the Boys from Boston.” Collymore was an outstanding student and, as a Villanova Wildcat, was a three-time All American in the 200-meter, shared the 1959 60-yard dash indoor world record, and achieved career highs with the NCAA (1957) and Penn Relays (1958).

Ed graduated in 1959 with a B.S. in Economics, enlisted in the Marine Corps, then became a Cambridge-based Middlesex County juvenile probation officer. He wanted to work with youth and in 1969 returned to Villanova to assist the president in a new program helping underqualified students navigate academic and personal concerns. He received an M.A. in Counseling Education there and an Ed.D. in Educational Administration from the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Collymore remained at Villanova for 35 years, retiring in 2004 as Executive Director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs. The Edward Collymore Honor Society celebrates scholars of high academic integrity and fosters their professional growth.

Eddie and his wife, Marcia (Burnett), had two children, Sandra and Edward Jr. Edward Collymore is buried at Valley Forge Memorial Gardens in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.