Edward J. Gildea

GILDEA - Edward J., 82, of Barnstable, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2006, after a long illness. Mr. Gildea attended St. Gregory's school in Dorchester, and later Belmont High School. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, he volunteered for the U.S. Air Force, rising to the rank of first lieutenant. He spent time training on B-24s at various bases across the U.S. He eloped and married his high school sweetheart, Janet Hyde of Belmont, and honeymooned on a three-day pass. They were married 58 years until Mrs. Gildea's death in 2003. After the war, he attended Boston University on the G.I. Bill of Rights, majoring in business. He began his career as a salesman for Rotis Plywood. In 1954, he founded Allied Plywood with Mort Waldfogel, who would be his partner for over 50 years. Together they built Allied International, the largest import/export company in New England with ten offices, nationwide. They distributed plywood and building materials imported from Russia and had a major positive impact on Nixon's Cold War Detente policy of trading with Russia. In 1983, they sold Allied and he spent the last 23 years of his life as a philanthropist and traveling with his wife. He was a major Donor to many charities, such as the YMCA of Cape Cod, Cape Cod Hospital, Simmons College, Capeabilities, and many others. More important, he become actively involved and applied his business skills to solve problems. When Capeabilities needed a van to transport handicapped people, he not only donated the money, he donated his time. He researched the options and found that the van manufacturer had to make the van handicap accessible at no charge. As a history buff, he relished his chance to see places in the world he had read about as a kid growing up in Dorchester. He and his wife traveled to South Africa, Ireland, France, England, and the Far East, as well as many cruise excursions. He co-founded the Pilgrim Congregational Church in Lexington and was a long-time member of the Oyster Harbors Club in Osterville. Beloved father to son James H. Gildea (wife Carol) of Weston and daughter Ann H. Gildea O'Keefe (husband William) of Sudbury; he is also survived by 4 grandchildren, Edward and Samuel Gildea, and Richard and Elise O'Keefe; a sister Josephine Jones of South Yarmouth, and a nephew Tyler Livermore of Exeter, NH. A funeral service will be held Saturday, Sept. 23, at the Pilgrim Congregational Church, 55 Coolidge Ave. Lexington, at 10:30 a.m. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Burial to follow at Westview Cemetery in Lexington. Donations in Mr. Gildea's memory may be made to Wayside Hospice, 266 Cochictuate Road, Wayland, MA 01778. Douglass Funeral Home, Lexington 781-862-1800 www.douglassfh.com">(www.douglassfh.com)