Edward Alan Light, 63, of Rockford passed away October 9, 2016, after a brief illness. He was born June 28, 1953, to Dr. David and Leona Light in St. Louis, Missouri.

Ed was a trial lawyer of thirty-five years for the Winnebago County Public Defenders' Office and was a member of the Winnebago Bar Association and of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He graduated from the SIU College of Law in 1980, and received the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2005. Ed was recognized by his peers and received the Bruce Robert Jacob Award presented by the Illinois Public Defender Association.

His extensive interest and knowledge in politics, national and international, led him to participate in many campaigns. He was also an amateur actor having performed in the Legal Follies and an avid runner having completed his last half-marathon in 2014. He enjoyed whitewater rafting, scuba-diving, and attending the games of his beloved St. Louis Cardinals baseball team.

He was very generous to those he loved and those in need. Most of all he loved his daughter, Eliana Winterbauer-Light. Ed is also survived by his sister, Nancy, and was predeceased by his parents and sister, Suzanne (husband Robert). Although Ed did not have many family members in the area, he had many close and loving friends by his side. Ed Light's prevailing sense of humor will be missed by all. Ed was a member of Temple Beth-El.

Services have been held.