Edward Baldwin Self 3rd died on August 12 after a monthlong battle with Covid-19. He was 49.

He was born in New York city and graduated in 1991 from Ridgewood High School in New Jersey. He received a bachelor of arts in music from Wagner College in 1995 while working nights as the sound engineer at The Bitter End in Manhattan. He received post-graduate degrees in audio post-production, advanced mixing techniques and advanced audio editing from Full Sail University in Florida.

He continued pursuing his love of music by teaching at both George’s Music and Full Sail. Teaching guitar and trumpet to students of all ages filled him with pure joy. He was also a master sound engineer and entertainer and loved performing live at various venues around New York City and Orlando.

Ed was a gifted and brilliant musician, singer and songwriter. He could play any instrument he touched within moments of picking it up, and he had mastered guitar, trumpet, violin, piano, viola, bass, cello, harp, bandurria, ukulele, kazoo, banjo and harmonica.

He was also a brilliant improviser. There was no better time than a night after a big family dinner where he would spontaneously announce he was going to do a “napkin song.” Everyone at the table was given a napkin and wrote a sentence for him to sing. He would then pick up his guitar and improv a song that made everyone laugh but that also touched the hearts of all gathered there.

He was an extreme sports enthusiast and athlete who loved heli-skiing, windsurfing, waterskiing, knee boarding and kite boarding. He loved to fish and was a master fly fisherman and surf caster.

He spent his summers at his beloved family home on Cape Pogue. He fished, explored the Island’s many wonders, and spent quality time adventuring with his parents, siblings and cousins.

Once he had children of his own, Ed delighted in sharing the Island’s magic with the next generation. He taught his children how to surf cast and where the fiddler crabs live. He taught them how to make the ocean glow at night by gently swirling the magic phosphorescence, how to negotiate a good deal with the local Cape Pogue jingle shell currency and how to find the dock from the boat on a pea soup fog day.

Ed lived every moment to the fullest. He laughed with his whole heart. His presence lit up any room.

He is survived by his children, Edward B. Self 4th and Caeli C. Armstrong; his parents, Judi Rolin Myers and Mel Myers of Blufton, S.C., Dr. Edward B. Self Jr., and Leslie S. Self of Charleston, SC and Edgartown; his sisters Ms. Rachel M. Self of Edgartown and Mrs. Meredith Antonelli of Bradenton, Fla.; his brothers Anton E. Self of Sao Miguel, Portugal, Rob Antonelli of Bradenton, Fla., Brooks W. Mitchell of Bedford, N.Y., Douglas Kennedy of Naples, Fla.; and his many cherished aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

He is also survived by his beloved brothers in music, David Morrissette and Jason Schmidt; his dearest friends and confidants Jim Atwell and Amanda Mitchell Self; and his treasured pets Mallie the Labradoodle and Congo the African grey parrot.

His funeral will be held privately.

Memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby.