We are saddened to report that Dr. Bumper “T” Clown, George Edward, passed away this morning.
He touched the lives of many Cooper employees, patients and their families through his unique style of caring and healing though humor.
As Bumper “T” Clown, Edward was a leader in caring clowning for the past 30 years. He was the founder of Bumper T Caring Clowns, Inc., a not for profit organization that currently is composed of more than 125 caring clowns serving 26 facilities in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland.
He was cited for “Distinguished Service on the World Clown Association’s Caring Clown Committee and for bringing smiles to a world in need” in a proclamation signed by two past presidents of the World Clown Association, Aurora “BeBop” Krause and Dr. Richard Snowberg.
In 2008, the Bumper “T” Caring Clowns were given the “Governor’s Award” for the most innovative volunteer program in the state of New Jersey.
In 1999, he received the “Klowniterian of the Year Award” (Clown of the Year) from the Mid-Atlantic Clown Association for giving a helping hand over the years to anyone who needed it. In October of 2004, Bumper “T” Clown was honored by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International by being named a Paul Harris Fellow in appreciation of tangible and significant assistance given to further the understanding and friendly relations among peoples of the world. For the past 12 years, his home and support base has been the Cooper Health System in Camden, New Jersey.
Funeral arrangements have not been announced.
Dr. Bumper lifted our spirits when we needed it most! In August 2007 our 17 year old daughter was being kept alive on a ventilator in a drug induced coma at Cooper University Hospital, Dr. Bumper put red clown noses on my husband and myself, snapped our picture with a Polaroid and brought smiles to our faces at one of the most difficult times in our lives. I thanked him then, I thanked him later and I thank him now; “Thank You” for finding a way to make us smile when we were losing hope. Dr. Bumper “T” Clown you will be missed by many.xoxoxo
I remember on August 22, 2001 my son wa only a few days old and Dr.Bumper “T” Clown came into my sons room with high spirates putting a little rose nose on my face and took a picture of us with his polaroid telling me everything was going to be okay Dr. Bumper “T” Clown will truley be missed. May he rest in peace xoxo……
I will always remember fondly how Dr. Bumper brightened the morning I was released from the hospital after having had an unsettling but successful procedure. My sister was there to take me home when Dr. Bumper and a fellow female clown, Rosie Cheeks, just showed up to make sure my departure would be accompanied with some fanfare and good cheer. My sister and I were delighted by their antics, and I left Cooper Hospital feeling cheerful and ready to face the world again.
Had the pleasure of meeting Bumper and Company at Orientation a year ago. Had the honor of serving him during a stint in the ER. A true Gentle Man who complained of nothing and always wanted to see a smile on someones face. Cooper has lost a GEM today
I met Bumper T at orientation last July, and I was lucky enough to get brave enough to raise my hand when you asked for volunteers and to be given the new clown nose I was so in need of…still looking for that picture of Bumper and I and company…Anyway, he came looking for me on the 10th floor not for Occupational Therapy you might add, as cool as it can be…but to just say hello personally to me and chat for a bit. I loved giving out his smiley stickers…he knew I did!! May you rest in peace in eternal life my Mr. Bumper T, and I will miss spotting you sitting in the lobby of Cooper Hospital on my way in to work. You were the best!
Bumper “T”‘s memorial services have been set. It will be held on June 18th at Ascensian Lutheran Church, 534 Fourth Ave, Haddon Heights, NJ 08035 (856-547-6669, http://www.alchh.org). Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m to 11:00 a.m. and the service will be at 11:00.
In lieu of flowers, we are asking for donations to Bumper “T” Caring Clowns, Inc., PO Box 37, Barrington, NJ 08007.
We would like to thank everyone for the kind words and thoughts about my dad. He will be greatly missed by all.
Dr. Bumper T was always a True Person before clowning around. He will be truly Missed. Just will never be the same around Cooper without him, cause when you seen all the other clowns you were sure to see him. God Bless your Family and may you Live On in Heaven.
I met Bumper on the spirit of Philadelphia this year and was sooo touched by what they did that I continued an inspiration to help children as well.We will be starting the first skate for life funktion in september. Because of people like him, my dream to help others will to soon be a reality and many many children will be supplied rollerskates, hockey gear and other athletic equiptment. My sister works at cooper and made me aware of his long time commitment and joy he brought to so many.I am one of the D.J.s on the spirit of Philadelphia and look foward to telling many others of the joys Bumper sharef with others and how we need to as well.
Oh My darling Bumper T! He will be truely missed. I had the pleasure of being his Nurse a few months ago. He is truely the kindest man I’ve ever known. Alway smiling, alwaying joking, alwaying peaceful and pleasan! He gave all who cared for him red clown noses, and smiley face stickers! I keep both in my work bag and think of him always! Gob bless Bumper T and his family and friends–he has many!
I had the pleasure of meeeting Bumper when I went through orientation, I then had met him yet again when he appeared in PCU and he happened to be my patient. He brightened up everyone’s day when he was released from the hospital he walked the entire floor and put smiley face stickers throughout the floor. Cooper lost a big part of the family today. Thank you Bumper for all you did!
Dr. Bumper has everyone smiling in heaven and they are all wearing little red noses. Thank you for lifting the spirits of Cooper patients and employees for all those years.
Dr. Bumper T was just an amazing person. I am sure he touched everyone’s life here at Cooper at one time or another. I hope that his legend will live on forever. The family is not alone if feeling this big loss. We all loved him as well. God bless.
The service of homecoming for Bumper T was a wonderful remembrance of a man who brought hope and happiness to countless children (and adults) at Cooper and elsewhere.
It was a joy to look accross the sanctuary during the service and see a sea of red noses in tribute to a gifted healer in his own right……
he was a great man and joyous… he knew just what to do to put a smile on your face no matter if you where and patient or employee… he was greatly appreciated and much need. god bless his family and thank them for allowing him to be an angel in the Cooper Family life thanks personally