MAHONEY, J. E. (Ed) - 1928–2019 After a long, full and happy life, Ed died on July 28, 2019, age 90.
He will be dearly missed by his wife, Lenora; daughters Mary Ellen, Angela Carolyn and Anne Louise; sons-in-law Andrew Bolton and Pierre LaViolette; beloved grandson, Eric; many nieces and nephews and their children; and countless friends and former colleagues.
Ed loved his family, winters in Florida, summers at Dickey Lake, social events with friends and relatives, a cold beer, seafood, opera, jazz, classical music, poetry and politics (he was a lifelong active Tory campaigner and supporter until recent years).
His Catholic faith was a source of comfort, strength and intellectual interest all his life.
His father died when Ed was 12; he remained close to his mother and his siblings (Patricia Keenan, Helen Clarke and Lorne Mahoney) always.
At their home, money was in short supply, especially during the Depression, so as a teenager, Ed worked at Devlin's menswear store in downtown Ottawa.
His earnings enabled him to attend university at St. Patrick's College (Ottawa). His sense of style, including his signature bow tie, was nurtured at Devlin's, where prime ministers and other pillars of society shopped.
A former journalist, he had covered everything from dog races in Pembroke, to Marilyn Bell's 1954 swim across Lake Ontario, to federal election campaigns in the Diefenbaker era.
Following his reporting days, he worked in public relations and communications until age 72, including at PRSL and Union Gas, before doing consulting work.
Still, he became a dedicated supporter and fundraiser for the Canadian Opera Company and was president of the board for a few years in the 1980's.
After a major heart attack at 71, he never expected to live till 90 and was grateful for the surgeon who performed a successful triple bypass on him at Kingston General Hospital and the excellent cardiac care from Dr. Richard James. Ed moved to Christie Gardens retirement community in 2018. His many daily visits to Lenora, just downstairs in the courtyard community, sustained both of them.
Their bond was exceptionally close and enduring; they celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary in May. The family is grateful to the staff at Christie Gardens for their friendship and support, and to the Temmy Latner Centre Palliative Care team for their exceptional care.
As a tribute to Ed, feel free to donate a book to your local library or buy one for a friend. Be kind to each other. Raise a glass to his memory. Godspeed, Ed!
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, August 1, 2019, at 2 p.m. at Holy Rosary Church, 354 St. Clair Avenue West, Toronto.
Family and friends are invited to join Ed's family at 1 p.m. at the church for the visitation.
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