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Ed Healy passed away peacefully at his home in Vero Beach,  Florida on March 28, 2020. He was 84 years old.

Edwin L. Healy Jr. was born in the Bronx, New York; the younger  son of Augustine (Gussie) Faivre and Edwin L. Healy Sr. The  Faivre family hailed from the Alsace Lorraine region of France  while the Healy's roots are in Ireland.

Although a city boy, Eddie spent a lot of time in the family's  country home in Brewster, NY hunting & fishing. In Dewitt Clinton  High School, he was the captain of the rifle team, a ballistics  expert and sharpshooter. Later on he would become an instructor  for the National Rifleman Association in Putnam County. Ed won  many competitions over the years; notably at Camp Smith where  the New York State Rifle and Pistol Matches were held for the  Naval Militia. Ed enlisted in the Naval Reserves after high school,  which he served nine years including one in active duty on the  USS John Hood during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The intensity of  that time in history were captured in his stories of life at sea on  that Destroyer. He was honorably discharged with the rank of  Petty Officer Second Class in 1962.

Another passion Eddie had was building hot rod cars and racing  them. His nickname in high school was Hot Rod Healy. On his last  visit to NY a few years ago, he recognized that Bronx street

running parallel to the highway we were on. He beamed as he  shared stories of being challenged to race an opponent on  Saturday nights in the '50's… and often winning. His love of speed  continued throughout his life, competing in races held by the  Westchester Sports Car Club in his Turbo Shelby Charger, often  placing 1st.

Ed also owned & operated a used car lot on a part time basis  during the 1960's. He was an expert mechanic and an honest  business man. He prided himself in never selling a lemon. In  recent years, going to classic car shows with Ed was fascinating  as he would peer under the hood and talk about the unique  features of that vintage car like it was yesterday when he worked  on them.

Ed became a New York City Firefighter in 1960, first serving in the  marine division responding to boat fires in the East River. Then  transferring to Ladder 46, proudly serving as the Tower Ladder  Truck Chauffeur for many years. He was responsible for the safety  of 6 men and the operation of the aerial bucket for search and  rescue. He often said that the many years spent in that career  were the best years of his life. Watching movies or tv shows  about firemen with Ed was entertaining, as he would comment on  how ridiculous or accurate they portrayed firefighting. The

storylines often stimulated personal accounts of his days on the  job with men who would remain life long friends.

Shortly after becoming a fireman, Ed met his future wife Bridget  McDonnell at an Irish dancehall. They married in 1961, had 2  children and moved to the country, raising the family in Lake  Mahopac. Of course Ed had a boat where many weekends were  spent waterskiing on the lake or fishing in the Long Island Sound.  An avid fisherman, Ed won many fishing competitions and kept a  freezer full of fresh fish all year long. His love of boating and  fishing continued in south Florida where they owned a 2nd home  to escape from the cold. Golf was added to his list of loves in the  sunshine state. Eventually they moved to Vero Beach full time  where they spent the rest of their years living life to the fullest.

Both Bridget & Ed had a sense of adventure and passion to travel.  They especially loved cruises and explored many parts of the  world. Ed was the family photographer and also filmed all  important events with his 8mm camera. Watching family movies  via the home projector was a highlight before cable television  came about! Every adventure was recorded and scrapbooked…he  was a travel journalist at heart. You never saw Eddie without a  camera on his belt and video camera around his neck when he  was on vacation or at a family wedding!

We will miss Ed's sense of humor, who was the king of "dad  jokes." He had a big heart, gave big bear hugs and had sage  advice like "Age is just a number. If you feel young, you are

young. Live your best life and remember the golden years are  now; not when you're my age and the wheels are falling off. "

Ed is predeceased by his wife of 58 yrs and his older brother John  Healy. He is survived by his children Marie & Mark, 3 grand  daughters, 2 great grand daughters & 1 great grandson, 4 nieces  & 3 nephews. He is interred alongside Bridget at the Cape  Canaveral National Cemetery.