Edward James “Ed” Noonan, Jr. son of E. J. and Sara L. Noonan, was born in Butte on March 11, 1949. He died of complications experienced during a heart procedure at St. Peter’s Health in Helena on Martin Luther King Day, January 20, 2020.
From an early age Ed was drawn to share his beautiful mind, true faith and selfless love as a gifted storyteller. His love of God and a good story called him to a religious educator’s life as a Christian Brother – a vocation he cherished. In 2006, Ed was inducted into their Brother Rice High School Hall of Fame in Chicago, IL. In 1978, while pursuing a Masters in Fine Art from Ball State University, he cast two student actors in a one-act touring show called Salvation Vision. This merry band of actors would become the family he chose for himself with whom he remained close for the rest of his life.
Ed was a writer, playwright, and poet. He wrote a series of plays about Butte and Helena. In 1989, his play, “War of the Copper Kings,” was produced by Grandstreet Theatre as a Montana Centennial Production. He received the Montana Arts Council Fellowship for Playwriting for a Butte play, “Taking History,” and the Wilderness Institute’s Matthew Hansen Endowment Award for his play “Montana Wilderness.” A book of his poetry, “Noisy Soil” was published in 1998, and he read his poems at many national, state, and local events.
Ed’s love of God’s creation extended to his affinity for animals. His stories and poems included all manner of critters cavorting and philosophizing with various saints and heavenly hosts. One notable example of his grace-filled and imaginative mind was his short story series, “Good St. Dominic’s Cat.” Ed fancied himself a cat man but was also devoted to a very protective yellow lab named Raeff, i.e. guardian wolf. Ed will be waiting patiently for Raeff at the “side door to heaven.”
Ed was preceded in death by his brother Larry. He is survived by sister Sara (Jerry) Paul and brother Mark of Portland Ore., brother Art of Butte and sister, Winnie Noonan of Phoenix, sister-in-law Jaci and beloved nieces and nephews Dan, Kate, Kelley, Pat, Andrea and Bryan and dearest cousin, Marion Kello. Also, by his spiritual brothers and co-conspirators, Mike (Colleen) Casey and Pete (MaryAnn) Ruzevich. Their children Sara (Christopher) Taleff, Kevin (Ilgaz) Casey, Peter “P.J.” Ruzevich and Alyxandra “Alyx” Ruzevich. This love of family continued with his shared grand-parenting of Bannack and Ismay Taleff. All of whom will miss Ed’s love and insights.
Ed was the director of the Myrna Loy Center from 2000 until his retirement in 2015. He served on the Helena City Commission from 2016-2020 and had recently been hired as the temporary manager of the Helena Civic Center. He remained an active member of the adjunct staff at Carroll College for more than thirty years and was advising students until the day he died.
Ed’s words and deeds impacted not only the lives of innumerable students, actors, dancers and performance organizations including Carroll College, Grandstreet Theatre, Helena Theatre Company, Lewis and Clark’s LGBTQ/PRIDE community and Cottonwood ALC but also the National Performance Network, American Producers Association, Under the Radar and the National Dance Ensemble among others.
Ed lived by the “Platinum Rule” choosing to love unto others as they would have you love unto them. He would often say “love others the way they need to be loved.”
Ed’s life will be celebrated with a social gathering at the Myrna Loy Center at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27th. Mass of Resurrection will be at the Cathedral of St. Helena on Friday, Feb. 28th, at noon, with a luncheon to follow in the Brondell Center. His final cremains will be interred privately at Holy Cross Cemetery, Butte.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Edward J. Noonan Memorial Fund for Non-Profits established at Valley Bank of Helena (www.valleybankhelena.com) so others may continue to benefit in his name. Please visit below to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Ed.
Service Schedule
Social Gathering
5:30 p.m.
Thursday February 27, 2020
Myrna Loy
15 N Ewing St.
Helena, Montana 59601
Funeral Mass
12:00 p.m.
Friday February 28, 2020
Cathedral of St. Helena
530 N. Ewing St.
Helena, Montana 59601
Funeral Reception
After the Mass
Friday February 28, 2020
Brondel Center of the cathedral
530 N Ewing St.
Helena, Montana 59601
Service Schedule
Social Gathering
5:30 p.m.
Thursday February 27, 2020
Myrna Loy
15 N Ewing St.
Helena, Montana 59601
Funeral Mass
12:00 p.m.
Friday February 28, 2020
Cathedral of St. Helena
530 N. Ewing St.
Helena, Montana 59601
Funeral Reception
After the Mass
Friday February 28, 2020
Brondel Center of the cathedral
530 N Ewing St.
Helena, Montana 59601
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Bonnie Lee Distasio says
You were a great neighbor and friend Ed. You will be missed. Rest In Peace.
Ann Carlson says
Ed was an amazing and dedicated cultural worker, producer, presenter, poet and teacher and most of all such a generous human being. He is beloved in the dance and performance community across the nation. He will be missed. May you find deep and beautiful peace, Ed.
Mary Jo Willis says
Ed was a friend from my college years at Lewis University. He was a truly kind and caring person. He made us laugh more times than I can remember. Although I list touch as the years went by, I am so happy to learn of the difference Ed made in the lives of so many wherever he found himself. Blessings, my friend. May the angels accompany you to Paradise.
Mary Jo
Judy Rice says
Like my friend Mary Jo, I, too, was a college friend of Ed. I think it was Mary Jo who came up with the nickname “Noonie,” and it stuck! Your seldom meet people about whom you can say, “Not a mean bone in his body.” In Noonie’s case, it was the truth. He was sweet, he was funny, he was kind. And, Lord, how we laughed!! I can envision a rollocking time in Heaven, as Noonie entertains the angels and saints. Even God Himself will be doubled over! Dance well, dearest Nonie!
With love,
Judy
Johnny Moore says
Ed served our community well as an advocate for the arts and as an elected city commissioner. I was pleased to serve with both of those roles – for three of his four years on the City Commission, he was a member of the Helena Public Art Committee. His advocacy for public art resulted in expanded city funding. Much of the public art that has been installed in the last few years would not have happened without Ed’s foresight and support. In addition to all that, he was a gentle soul, a creative spark, and a kind man. I will miss him.
ANA AND CORTEZ says
Commissioner Noonan was a brilliant light and a beautiful person. He was wise and kind, warm and sharp, attentive to detail with a great ability to see the big picture. Heaven is a better place because of him. His presence shall continue to be felt in Helena. His leadership and his intellect were second to none. He would often tell me that the universe does not act randomly; that there is a reason for life to take us places. I am sure that his premature departure has a higher reason, a better purpose. I am not able to see it now, I am just filled with sorrow.
Doris copenhaver says
Rest in peace Ed. You were a wonderful friend and certainly an asset to the community. We will think of you every time we sit on your couch which you so graciously gave to Sanna.
Jo Weber says
Ed was always a guiding force in my life both as Residence Director when I was a student at Carroll College and as a co-worker and friend when I worked Carroll and later in life. He will be greatly missed by the Helena and Carroll community.
Pat Prendergast says
Sorry to learn of Ed’s passing. Sympathies.
Pat and Seaneen Prendergast
Michael J. Kello says
It is with a heavy heart and fond memories I read in the Helena IR today about my cousin Ed’s death. He was a incredibly wonderful man who filled my childhood with much love and wonder. As an adult I have tried to emulate his grace, love, and spirit of community. He offered me (and many others) much great advice and counsel, but mostly friendship. I will grieve his loss immensely and pray for his….our….family,
Matt & Mary Kunnary says
So sorry that Ed left us. It was way too soon he will be greatly missed. However, it was a pleasure to have worked with him at Carroll and known him as a friend. God Bless you Ed until we meet again.
Matt & Mary Kunnary
Steve Koester says
Ed it was fun working with you in the mid 80’s at West Mont at the Montana house. We had a great time with the clients and you even wrote a play based on me called ” Warren Street House. ” You will be missed, Journey well.
Mark Mlekush says
Ed was a man with a smile on his face and a heart full love for every one. I didn’t know Ed that well but when I did chat with him from time to time, he was a great person to chat with and even learn something that I didn’t know whether it was about him or something about the Arts Rest in Peace my Christian Brother
Wendy Fox says
As a dancer, I appreciated the many cutting edge dance performances that Ed brought to the Myrna Loy over the years! I know that these were made possible only through the painstaking relationships Ed built over time with the National Performance Network and other arts organizations. Such generous and unlikely arts experiences he made possible for the people of Helena! He even let our small group of dancers use the Myrna Loy stage at 7 am on Friday mornings for our Contact Improvisation Jams for several years. He was always supporting artists in large and small ways, acknowledged and unacknowledged. I will miss running into him at the No Sweat Cafe on Friday mornings, when he would always ask after my mother, Beverly. Oh that peaceful, kind smile of his! Thank you dearly Ed!
Michael Prendergast says
May his memory be a blessing!
Frank Ondrey says
Ed was simply outstanding the way he ran both the theater and the way he taught class at Brother Rice in the 70s. Will be kept in my thoughts always
Vic Baltusis says
I knew “Ed” as Brother Ed Noonan when I was a student at Brother Rice High School in Chicago, IL between 1973-77. I was fortunate to have Brother Noonan as my English Teacher for three out of those four years! He was an excellent teacher in both English as well as Drama as he was always involved with the student plays. I was saddened to hear of his passing and will always have great memories of him! God Bless you Brother Noonan! You will never be forgotten! Vic Baltusis…..Brother Rice H.S. Class of 1977.