When you think of Martha Stewart, you probably think of perfect pie crusts, a massive media empire, and maybe that unlikely friendship with Snoop Dogg. But behind the scenes of the domestic queen's rise, there was a man who basically blueprinted her entire life. That was her father, Edward Kostyra. People often wonder about the roots of Martha's legendary drive, and it leads them straight back to Edward. Naturally, curiosity follows: how did he die?
Finding the specific Edward Kostyra cause of death is surprisingly tricky because it wasn't a headline-grabbing scandal. He didn't die in a dramatic accident or a public tragedy. He passed away in 1979 at the age of 67. Honestly, 67 feels young by today’s standards, but in the late seventies, it was a different story.
The Man Behind the Perfectionism
To understand his death, you kinda have to understand his life. Edward was a pharmaceutical salesman. He was a guy who demanded excellence—or something close to it—from his six children. Martha has been very vocal about this. In her 2024 Netflix documentary, Martha, she describes him as a "perfectionist" and even used the word "bigot" to describe some of his tougher traits.
He was the one who taught her how to garden. He taught her how to organize. He also, according to Martha, had a bit of a temper.
👉 See also: Sara Ali Khan Marriage: What Most People Get Wrong
He lived in Nutley, New Jersey, for years. That’s where the Kostyra family grew up in a three-bedroom house. It was crowded. It was disciplined. Edward was the sun that the whole family orbited around. When he died in August 1979, it left a massive hole in Martha's world, especially since she was just on the cusp of her global breakthrough.
What Was the Edward Kostyra Cause of Death?
The records from that era aren't as digitized or public as they are now. If a celebrity’s father dies today, we know the cause in four minutes via a TMZ tweet. In 1979? Not so much.
Edward Rudolph Kostyra died of natural causes, likely related to a long-term decline in health, though specific medical details like "heart failure" or "cancer" were never widely publicized by the family. Most genealogical records and Social Security Death Indexes simply confirm he passed away in Nutley, New Jersey.
It’s worth noting that Martha’s siblings had some sudden health issues later in life. Her sister Laura died of a brain aneurysm in 2014, and her brother George died of a heart attack in 2017. While Edward's specific "event" wasn't documented in a press release, his relatively early departure at 67 suggests his health wasn't peak.
📖 Related: Kanye West Name: What Most People Get Wrong
A Complicated Legacy
Martha has often lamented that her father never got to see her truly "make it." By 1979, she had started her catering business, but the books, the magazines, and the TV shows were still in the future.
- 1911: Edward is born in New York.
- 1930s-70s: Works as a salesman, raises six kids.
- 1979: Dies at age 67.
The "why" of his death matters less to the family history than the "when." His passing marked the end of the first chapter of Martha’s life. She lost her mentor and her harshest critic all at once.
Why Do People Still Ask About Him?
Because Martha won't stop talking about him. And that's not a dig! She acknowledges that her entire DNA—her work ethic, her aesthetic, her need to be the best—is a direct hand-me-down from Edward.
You've probably seen the old photos. He looked like a stern, classic mid-century dad. He was a man of his time. He was tough. He was probably a bit much to live with. But without him, there is no Martha Stewart Living.
🔗 Read more: Who Was Born on April 13? The Truth Behind These Famous Birthdays
Final Thoughts on the Kostyra Family History
Searching for the Edward Kostyra cause of death usually leads people down a rabbit hole of Martha’s childhood. It wasn't a "glamorous" life in the beginning. It was a Polish-American family in Jersey working hard for every inch of progress.
If you're looking for a specific medical diagnosis, the family has kept that private for over forty years. We know he died in Nutley. We know he was 67. We know his wife, "Big Martha," outlived him by nearly thirty years, passing away in 2007 at the age of 93.
The real takeaway? Edward’s life was defined by the discipline he instilled in his children. His death was a quiet conclusion to a life spent pushing his family to achieve the American Dream.
If you're digging into the history of the Kostyra family, your next move should be watching the 2024 documentary Martha on Netflix. It provides the most raw, unfiltered look at Edward's personality and how his death impacted Martha's psychological drive to succeed. You'll see the house in Nutley and hear Martha's own voice describe the man who shaped her.