Edward W. Sayers, Former Gloucester Township Councilman, Dies at 76

Edward W. Sayers, 76, of Gloucester Township, passed away suddenly Saturday, according to an obituary from the Earle Funeral Home.

A viewing will be held on Thursday from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. at the Earle Funeral Home, 122 W. Church St., Blackwood, Gloucester Township, where a prayer service will begin at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be private. Condolences may be viewed/posted at www.earlefuneralhome.com

Mr Sayers was born in Philadelphia and lived in Gloucester Township for over 50 years. He went on to work for Gloucester Township as the zoning officer, then as the community development and planning director until he retired five years ago.

He was active in Democrat politics in Camden County, serving first as a councilman in Gloucester Township from 1972 to 1974 as part of a new coalition following a corruption scandal involving prior council officials. He served as mayor in 1972. From 1974 to 1985 he was a Camden County Freeholder, rising to Freeholder Director in 1979. More recently he had served as a project manager for the Township Housing Authority.

Mr Sayers was a member of the Gloucester Township Democrat Club and once was president of the Gloucester Township Young Democrats; US Coast Guard Auxiliary, where he was a former Captain of Division XIII, and a former Commander of Flotilla 13-1 in Gloucester Township; Pennsylvania Railroad Technical and Historical Society; and the Friends of the Pennsylvania Railroad Museum, Strasburg, Pa.

He was a graduate of Northeast Catholic High School in Philadelphia and attended Rutgers University-Camden. He worked as a stationary engineer for Wm. Thrower Corp., Cherry Hill, R & S Mechanical Contractors, Gloucester Township, and then 38 Shop at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard until it closed before his career in Gloucester Township government.

He was the loving father of Terri Ann Cianci of Pennsauken, Susan Loberto of Moorestown and the late Edward P. Sayers. Beloved grandfather of Robert, Anthony, and Nicholas Cianci, and John and Taylor Loberto; great-grandfather of Alexa Cianci. Edward is also survived and will be sadly missed by dear friend Carol Comegno of Marlton.