Edward Robert Curtin

A loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, and a New York City attorney for 50 years, Edward R. Curtin passed away August 14, 2023 at Berkshire Medical Center surrounded by his family. He was the son of Beatrice Settler Curtin (1912-2005) and Edward Joseph Curtin (1908-1954), a NYC firefighter who died in the line of duty when Ed was only 12.

Despite that loss, Ed had a love for life, for people, animals, and nature - indeed he had a curiosity in all things. A favorite quip to his children was "kids, be a detective!" He believed the journey was just as interesting as the destination. Ed appeared on Jeopardy! back in the days when Art Fleming was host and he could complete the New York Times crossword puzzle in record time.

Always with a smile and a laugh, Ed was a great storyteller, joke teller, poet, song writer (guitar and piano), and an incredibly talented writer, from short stories, to a play and a screenplay to legal briefs.

Despite medical issues over the years, Ed persevered and never let his health get him down. He always maintained an optimistic outlook. People would remark that Ed looked much younger than his years - to which Ed would reply "you should see the inside of me!"

Born in Washington Heights, NY, Ed grew up in Parkchester, the Bronx. He received degrees from Christopher Columbus High School (1959), City College of New York (BA Economics) 1963, Cornell University (Master of Industrial Labor Relations) 1965, and New York University Law School (JD Law) 1969 where he served as Editor of The Law Review. Ed achieved his law degree while working days and attending NYU Law School evening classes.

Ed worked at the Conference Board, then at law firms Dahan & Nowick, Trubin Sillcocks and Gersten Savage, Kaplowitz & Curtin until 2000 when he established his own private practice. He and his wife Jill also created Curtin Realty Group in 2005.

Ed lived almost 40 years in Murray Hill where he was president of his co-op, and a vice president of the Murray Hill Neighborhood Association. Proud of his Irish Catholic and Jewish roots, Ed brought a richly expansive spirit to the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation, where he regularly attended and served as Junior Warden. As a fund-raiser for the Church, Ed wrote the play "Victorian Secrets" about Murray Hill and the Church of the Incarnation in Victorian times. Members of the Church performed in period costumes to unanimous praise from the audience. Ed also wrote poems for other Church events, quickly becoming the Church of the Incarnation's poet laureate. He was also a hit at family parties when he wrote and recited clever and humorous poems for family members.

Married to Gayle Hayden in 1963, they had two children, Edward R. Curtin, Jr. (Ted) in 1966 and Hayden Elizabeth Curtin DeCillis in 1969. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1975. Ed married again in 1985 to Jill Newson. They had two children, Daniel Newson Curtin in 1986 and Caroline Hughes Curtin in 1990. In 2019 Ed and Jill moved from NYC to Lebanon Springs, NY to care for Ed's sister, Barkat Curtin Pollock (1945-2021).

In Lebanon Springs Ed joined the Church of Our Saviour and served on its Vestry.

Ed is survived by his wife Jill of 38 years, four children and their spouses: Ted and Kathy Curtin, Hayden and Mauro DeCillis, Daniel and Alexa Curtin and Caroline and partner, Nick Fusaro, five grandchildren: Kelly and Josh Cohen, Jimmy and fianc? Baileigh Carter, Mauro, Sarah and Jack DeCillis, and one great grandchild: Benny Cohen.

A memorial service will be held Friday, October 6th at 11:00 am at The Church of the Incarnation, 209 Madison Avenue at 35th St, NYC.