Edward Geraghty Obituary - Death Notice and Service Information

LOCATION

Rockville Centre, New York

'His Talent Was His Mind'

Several years ago, Battalion Chief Edward F. Geraghty was put in charge of the Fire Department's training school on Randall's Island. On his first day, he gave the new recruits a pep talk, telling them what he expected. After he was done, he turned around to find the school's instructors staring strangely at him. "What did I do wrong?" he asked. One replied, "You're not supposed to be nice, you're supposed to scare the hell out of them."

That would have been difficult for Chief Geraghty, said his wife, Mary. "I was married to Eddie for 17 years and I saw him in a bad mood twice." Even last year, when her father became terminally ill and had to move in with them, when they found out their middle son, James, 12, had juvenile diabetes and when they had a fire in their house that displaced them for several weeks, he kept an optimistic outlook and his sense of humor. She said, "He would always say, `Life doesn't get any better than this.' "

Chief Geraghty, 45, oversaw five firehouses on Manhattan's West Side, all of which responded to the World Trade Center on Sept. 11.

Mrs. Geraghty used to go downstairs every morning and find her husband already reading and studying. "His talent was his mind," she said. Now, when she rises, she sits at the bottom of the stairs as the sun comes up with a picture of him and tells him, "Good morning."

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I grew up with Eddie from when we could crawl till 6th grade. I know his family well and wish them all the best. I was just stumbling around looking up friends from back when and I had heard about Eddie but wasn't sure. I guess these phones now offer quite a bit of information and yeah if that sounds like I'm old school it's cuz I am. REST EASY EDDIE. Regards to Ed and Norma, Lynn, Janet, Steve, Maureen, Timmy, and Colleen. Sorry so late. Happy memories. Lawrence Stephen Dgezits

Lawrence Dgezits

October 31, 2020 | Friend

Sending our sincere condolences to your family. Daily may God continue to give the help and strength needed to cope. Ed touched many lives and will always be remembered.

The Kindred Family

November 17, 2018

After 911, I received a dog tag with Edward Geraghty, in memory of his life. I still have that and am honored to wear it each September in his memory. You are gone but not forgotten. Memories from Chincoteague, Virginia

February 23, 2017

Hello to Mary and Edward's family,
I live in East Rockaway and my name is Patricia Geraghty Forte. I happened to see a Rockville Centre Edition of the Herald and read about your husband Edward. It caught my eye naturally because I am a Geraghty. My Dad, Joseph Geraghty who passed away in 2008 at the age of 89 was an NYFD firefighter as a young man and he grew up in Flushing and then Bayville. Your husband has the same cleft in his chin as my Dad, brother and many Geraghty relatives. ...

September 27, 2016

Dear Geraghty Family, May Ed be Resting In Peace and May God continue to Bless you all..

Maureen Kennelly

September 12, 2016 | New Hyde Park, NY

Dear Geraghty family I got the honor of stair climbing at Red Rocks (Colo) in your husbands/ fathers/ brothers memory. What an amazing beautiful man he was. Obviously he was truly loved and dearly missed. God bless you all. I'm certain that he is watching over you all and he will live in your hearts forever! A true hero he is

Lisa Mansfield/Barnica

September 11, 2016 | Boulder, CO

Colin and Connor, I was thinking about the time I met you playing golf at Disney in Orlando, I think this was in 2008. When you told myself and Carl the Houston officer who you were my heart got real heavy. Your father would be proud of you two on how you handle yourselves. One day my wife and I will visit the memorial to pay tribute to your father. I just wish you 2 the best in life.

Peter Cannon

September 11, 2015

Mr geraghty, a true hero and friend to all who had the pleasure of his company,, although I never meet him the high esteem in which his wife and family are held speaks volumes. Rip from all in Ireland eamon. Co armagh.

Eamon Geraghty

September 08, 2015

Hello Geraghty Family, my name is Nick "Cinco" Fenley Jr. I am an Agent with the U.S. Border Patrol in Imperial Valley, California. I had the honor of "carrying" Edward with me during the inaugural 911 memorial stair climb on 09/13/14. I am deeply sorry for your loss, although we will probably never meet, I wanted to tell you that I was honored to carry Edward's photo with me during the event. From everything I have read, Ed seemed like an amazing man, character that was above reproach.

Nick "Cinco" Fenley Jr

October 27, 2014 | El Centro, CA

Edward F. Geraghty

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