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Edwin (Eddie) Mbanda entered into God’s kingdom, in his sleep, in April 2023, at his home in Pennsylvania. He was 33 years young.
Edwin was born in April 1990, in Colorado, to his loving, faith-filled parents Laurent and Chantal Mbanda. In 2008 he graduated from Black Forest Academy in Kandern, Germany, and went on to pursue his passion for business, graduating from Eastern University with a degree in Business Administration and Management. His natural gift for leadership and financial vision paved the way for his successful career at Vanguard and then PayPal as a Senior Account Executive before joining Checkout.com, where he served as an Enterprise Sales Manager. He loved that his work enabled him to make a positive impact on his clients. Edwin was known to us all as the gentle giant with a heart of gold, a twinkle in his eye, and a smile/laugh that uplifted everyone he met. A joyful personality from the start, Edwin was the youngest of three kids in the family – getting and giving lots of love. His magnetic personality made everyone around him feel loved and cared for. A natural athlete, Edwin grew up involved in all kinds of sports including karate, basketball, American football, and rugby. Despite his size, he never used it to intimidate anyone. When accidentally knocking over other children, he would always make sure his opponents were okay before celebrating a point. This spirit carried on into his adult life, where he continued to stand up for and protect others while also being gentle and soft. Edwin’s ability to embody both aspects was beautiful and inspiring. Edwin was a natural-born leader who excelled both on and off the court. His primary sports passion was for basketball, which he played in high school, college and even for the Rwandan National team. Off the court, he was also a powerhouse, pursuing the latest trends in Fintech, marketing, business strategies, and leadership. He was part of the INSPIRE Leadership Development Program at PayPal, where he encouraged others to be their best selves by identifying and leveraging their strengths. An entrepreneur at heart, he started his own firm, ERM Consulting, specializing in VC backed ventures and startups. Edwin will be remembered for his infectious smile that would light up any room, his incredible dance moves, and his unwavering commitment to make the world a better place. He had a gift for bringing people together and making them feel special; often putting their needs before his own. In fact, he was in the middle of leading the planning of a long-awaited family vacation he was designing to celebrate his mother’s upcoming 60th birthday. Edwin also loved traveling, finding new restaurants, being a dog dad to Mac, and spending time with his family and friends. He was most proud of being an Uncle and Godfather bringing love, laughter and mischief to the children in his life. Edwin Mbanda is survived by his parents Laurent and Chantal, siblings Erica, Eric and Junior, New Hope Homes brothers and sisters, niece and nephew Selah and Liam, treasured girlfriend Marissa, and many other family and friends who loved him deeply. His memory will live on in the hearts of those who knew him, and his legacy of laughter, kindness and compassion will continue to inspire us all. As we think about the past few months, without knowing Edwin’s time was to be cut short, we reflect on how he was increasingly intentional about prioritizing family and friends over everything - ensuring each felt loved, heard, and seen. We are all grateful for this gift. As we celebrate Edwin, he would want us to enjoy life, laugh a lot…. and don’t forget to dance a little. 🕺🏿 |