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Obituary

Ed Canavan passed away on Saturday, April 11, 2020 after a long battle with cancer. He was born to Jane Rita (Griffith) and Edward D. Canavan in 1938. He was born in Queens but lived many years in the Bronx. He enlisted in the US Air Force in 1955 at the age of 17. He was assigned to the Strategic Air Command on a KC-97 air refueling tanker and stationed in Greenland and Bangor, Maine. While stationed at Dow Air Force base in Bangor, he met and married Judith (“Judy”) Anne Sullivan (1939 – 1997). After serving four years he was honorably discharged 1n 1959. In 1960 he moved his family to the Bronx. By 1963 he and Judy had three children: Edward, June and Patrick (1963 – 1982) and were living in Islip Terrace. In 1968 he moved the family to Great River where he resided since. He worked his way up the business ladder at several companies (Schaefer Brewing Co., Hanes, Ithaca Gun, Seiko, Grumman). It was his position at Grumman, where he eventually was assigned to the US Space Station project, that he felt most satisfied. He was a graduate of Stony Brook University and his insatiable quest for knowledge motivated him to pursue a Master’s Degree from Fordham University's Graduate School of Social Services at 70. In his forties he developed a passion for long-distance running and eventually ran in many of the nations top marathons (New York, Washington DC, Hawaii, among others). His best time was 3:42.

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After the death of Judy he met Anne Virgilio. Since 1998 they’ve been inseparable. The entire Virgilio family has been a source of great joy for him during this time. Over the years he had many wonderful friends. Among them, his cousin Joe Fucigna, Virgil Abbetiello, Tom Jackson, Jack Rogers, Tom Quinn, Midge and Jay Wilker and his long-time partner-in-crime, Jack Kramer (and his wife Eileen). During the late 1970s he and Jack served as the vice-president and president of the Great River Civic Association respectively. Aside from running, he most enjoyed skiing, boating, the beach (Fire Island) and music. He had a life-long passion for music. His favorites were jazz and Frank Sinatra. Music gave him great comfort and joy, especially in his final years. It would be a rare exception to enter his home and not hear the stereo playing his favorite standards or Ol’ Blue Eyes. He also loved to travel (Russia, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan). One of his favorite destinations was Hawaii, which he made regular visits to. Ed’s extraordinary life was filled with many friends and family that loved him yet his life was not without tragedy; at the age of six he lost his beloved mother Jane, his youngest son Patrick to leukemia at age 19 and his beloved wife Judy at age 57. Despite these challenges he never lost his zest for life. Ed also had an impeccable sense of style. He was always well-dressed -- whatever the occasion. We will miss his terrific sense of humor, fabulous personality and wonderful ability connect with whomever he met.

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When you were with him; whether it was for a visit to his house, a day at the beach or a drink at the bar, it was a splendid time well-spent. He is survived by his wife Anne, children Ed (wife Dana) and June (husband Doug), sister Jane and grandchildren Patrick, Hunter, Matthew, Courtney, Kendra and Ryan and his step children Laurie (husband Tom), Andrea (husband Kurt), Bob (wife Annemarie), Joe (wife Patrice) and Matt (wife Lenet) and grand children (Claire, Kelly, Matthew, Ellie, Tim, Bella, Caroline, James, Dan, Emma and Sophia). He will be interred at St. Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale where he will rest alongside Judy and Patrick. In lieu of flowers please donate to his favorite charity The New York Times Neediest Cases Fund.