Edward Martin Cooney, 82, died at home in Marion, MA on June 24, 2016 surrounded by the love of family. He was born to the late Edward and Mary (Sullivan) Cooney on October 22, 1933 in Framingham, MA. After high school and a year of electronics trade school, he enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard where he repaired radar, served on weather patrol and lived out stories he would tell (and re-tell) for a lifetime.
He married Elizabeth “Betty” (Donlan) Cooney in 1958 and upon graduating from Boston University he and Betty moved to Newport to begin a full life. Ed worked in the defense industry as a contracts administrator and executive, most memorably at Sippican Corporation in Marion, MA. Marion became the family’s center and Ed lived there for 48 years. A perfect work day for Ed would be driving to Boston for meetings while Carly Simon sang “You’re so Vain” to him personally in his Peugeot, followed by watching one of his children’s games, family dinner and a gin and tonic.
He was known for his quick wit, intellectual curiosity, marine electronics prowess, writing clever songs and poems for friends and his big blue eyes. He loved his family, friends, colleagues, Elmore Leonard, John le Carré and chocolate chip ice cream. He also loved his boats, especially the White Whale – a wooden 42’ Classic Grand Banks Hull #16 which he maintained himself. While he suffered from poor health for decades, he remained incredibly upbeat. He was well loved by his family and lovingly cared for by his wife.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Betty; his four children, Beth Cooney and her husband Rob Sargent and their children Michaela and Rory, Ted Cooney and his wife Claire and their daughter Elle, Dan Cooney and his wife Kate and their children Henry and Owen and Sarah Garabedian and her husband Mike; and his three sisters, Sylvia Stickney and her husband Bill, Nancy Mahoney and her husband John, and Mary Harvey.
A celebration of his life will be held on Tuesday, August 2nd at 2 PM at Tabor Academy’s Wickenden Chapel in Marion, MA.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in Ed’s memory to (the amazing) Community Nurse Home Care at 62 Center Street, PO Box 751, Fairhaven, 02719. www.communitynurse.com. Arrangements are with the Saunders-Dwyer Mattaposiett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett. For online guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.