Ed Hertenstein; Founded Plumbing Company

Ed Hertenstein, a retired plumbing company co-founder, died at his home in Thousand Oaks after a long battle with cancer. He was 68.

Born May 6, 1932, in New York City, he was raised in the Bronx and attended schools there. He later graduated from Stuyvesant High School.

Following in his father’s footsteps, he became a member of the plumbers union in 1950 and worked on high-rise buildings in Manhattan.

He was drafted into the Army in 1952 and was a helicopter mechanic at Ft. Lewis, Wash.

On a weekend furlough to visit his sister in California, he enjoyed the weather so much that he persuaded his parents to move the family to Whittier. There he met and later married Mary Lou Boyle in 1957.

In 1966, the couple and their four children moved to Camarillo, where he co-founded Ven Oaks Plumbing. He was president until retiring in 1988. Three years later, his wife died.

Hertenstein had been active in the community. He was involved with youth soccer as a coach and board member. His family hosted the German soccer team in 1976 and accompanied the Eagles soccer team to England on an exchange program.

He also volunteered at Pleasant Valley Hospital and helped found the Camarillo Farmers’ Market.

While a hospital volunteer, he met his second wife, Edith Riffel. They married in 1995.

In addition to his wife Edith, he is survived by daughters Kathy Powell, Tammy McKinnon, Patricia Harris; son Mike; sisters Agnes Glendenning, Catherine Torres, Grace Bertucci, Delores Villano and Jeanne Schoenwitz; and 10 grandchildren.

A funeral Mass is scheduled at 11 a.m. today at St. Mary Magdalen Church on Las Posas Road in Camarillo.

Memorial donations may be made to Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Assn., 1996 Eastman Ave., No. 101, Ventura, CA 93003.

Arrangements are under the direction of Pierce Bros. Griffin Mortuary in Camarillo.