Edward Julian Mandt

Edward Julian Mandt, 85, of Fleming Island, Florida, passed away peacefully on October 17, 2026. Born on November 15, 1940, in Hazard, Kentucky, Edward was the son A.J. “Dick” Mandt and Cleo Steele. Ed’s formative years were spent in Lexington and Nicholasville Kentucky. His education started in a one room rural school in Jessamine County in 1946. He later attended Lafayette High School and graduated from Wayland High School in Eastern Kentucky in 1958. Throughout his life, he distinguished himself through military service, a remarkable career in law enforcement and public safety education, and a deep devotion to his family. Edward proudly served in the United States Army from 1958 to 1962. Following his military service, he embarked on a distinguished career in law enforcement and criminal justice. He served with the Deerfield Beach Police Department in Florida, worked as an investigator and expert witness in bodily injury and wrongful death cases, served as Special Agencies Program Supervisor for the Kentucky Department of Justice Bureau of Training, and taught as an Adjunct Professor at Eastern Kentucky University. A lifelong advocate for education and public service, Edward earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science from Florida Atlantic University and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Eastern Kentucky University. He completed extensive advanced studies through numerous institutions, including the National Intelligence Academy, Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute, and the FBI Law Enforcement Officers Training School. He also held a United States Coast Guard Master's License and served as a Merchant Marine Officer for 25 years. Edward retired as Dean Emeritus of the Institute of Public Safety at Broward College in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he helped shape the education and training of countless public safety professionals. Edward and his wife Martha spent their retirement years between two homes in Florida and Kentucky. Ed could always be found boating the St. Johns River in Florida or Herrington Lake in Kentucky. If he was not boating, he was hiking in Eastern Kentucky in areas he cherished and proudly claimed as his Scots-Irish Roots. Edward was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Martha Mandt. He is survived by his son, Mike Mandt, and daughter-in-law, Amy Mandt; grandson, Cole Mandt; granddaughter, Kendall Edes and her husband, Trevor Edes; great-granddaughter, Elly Edes; and brothers, Richard D. Mandt, George W. Dean, and Steve A. Mandt; special niece Jennifer Kennedy and his beloved dog Danny Boy. Edward will be remembered for his unwavering commitment to public service, his dedication to education, his love for family, and the lasting impact he made on the many lives he touched throughout his distinguished career and community.

Final arrangements are still pending. This obituary was lovingly written by the family. “Wherever a beautiful soul has been, there is a trail of beautiful memories” All arrangements are under the careful direction of Hager and Cundiff Funeral Home and we would like to express our deepest sympathy to the Mandt family and friends. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital.