James Risinger II

James Edsel "Ed" Risinger II Ed, age 55, passed away on April 9, 2016, at his home in Austin, TX. When Ed Risinger was 52, he traveled to Thailand. He went on a motorboat tour across the islands with his daughter, thinking that it would be beautiful and sunny. Instead, they got stuck in a storm. The swells were so bad that every other tourist was seasick. The engine got flooded after a huge wave and it was obvious that the boat could capsize. But Ed was not afraid, he had a set of flippers, a snorkel and his emergency survival pack, ready so that he could grab his daughter and swim to safety. This is the person that Ed was in any situation. He was ready to save the day. He was a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, a licensed gun carrier and a patriot. He was someone that made you feel safe, protected and ready, no matter what calamity was on the horizon. While a true Texan, Ed was born in South Carolina and raised moving from state to state with his military family. When Ed was very young, his fighter pilot father, Dr. James Edsel Risinger, spent two consecutive terms away at war. Ed treasured his father's war stories and his father always remained Ed's greatest hero and role model. Ed's passion was his work. He created dozens of brilliant business innovations inspired by his entrepreneurial spirit. At the University Texas he was the President of the student chapter of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. One of his fondest memories was when he personally forged the currently displayed ASME plaque in the Department of Engineering at the University of Texas. But his priority and what always had first place in his heart were his two children, James and Alex Risinger. Ed was the kind of father that stayed up all night Christmas Eve constructing a trampoline in the dark so that his children would wake up to a magical Christmas morning. But Ed was not just a father to his children, he was a father figure to many people who felt alone. He did so much to make the lives of others better. He was instrumental in setting up an orphanage for young girls, The Gift of English in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Ed believed in inspiring adventure. In his lifetime, he walked the earth, traveling to the Caribbean, Mexico, Venezuela, Central America, United Kingdom, France, Scotland, Israel, Vietnam, South Korea, Cambodia, Malaysia and Thailand. While his life journey was cut short, his bravery remains an inspiration for all of his friends and family to explore new horizons. Ed believed in the power and plan of God. He was baptized at Hyde Park Baptist Church where he taught Sunday School. He was preceded in death by his parents James Edsel Risinger and Dorothy Vaeth. He is survived by his children, James and Alexandria Risinger, mother in law, Juliette Risinger and sister, Diane Rodriguez. Family and friends remember Ed for his humor, charisma, and love for fighting for justice. Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 7, 2016 at Riverbend Church, 4214 Capital of Texas Highway North, Austin, TX. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to the Gift of English www.giftofenglish.com