Edward J. "Rusty" McElaney

Edward J. McElaney (Rusty), 81, passed away peacefully on August 17, 2025. Rusty was born in Dorchester, MA, to Margaret and Edward McElaney on April 17, 1944. He went to Saint Gregory School for his elementary years, where he met Nancy, his soulmate and perfect partner, in 1954. The couple began dating in 1959 during Rusty’s high school years at Catholic Memorial, and married after graduating from Boston College on July 22, 1967.

‍Rusty excelled in baseball and hockey at both CM and BC, piling up a long list of accolades while being recognized by news outlets as a schoolboy all-star. His love of sports brought him back to his high school alma mater as a coach and teacher in September 1966. He was lucky to have never worked a day in his life. That’s how he felt about his 41 years on Baker Street. His 15-year coaching career at CM was highlighted by many Catholic Conference Championships on the ice and the diamond, but the pinnacle was the Knights’ 1973 Baseball State Championship… Twenty wins, zero losses.

From 1982 until his retirement, he served as the leader of CM’s Guidance Department. During this time, he enjoyed helping young men figure things out at a significant time in life. Mr. Mac’s mission was to instill a sense of Christian Brothers’ faith and kindness to every student he encountered, both inside and outside his office. He left his imprint on hundreds of students throughout his career.

He was honored to be inducted into CM’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997. Because he enjoyed coaching so much, he continued coaching baseball beyond CM at Ted Williams Camp (1973 – 1985), and for Stoughton Youth Baseball (1984 -1995). He met so many great people during these years.

Without question, he believed his most important accomplishment in life was raising a wonderful family with Nancy by his side. For 42 years (1969-2011), they lived at 54 Kotlik Street, enjoying summers by their pool with family and friends and watching their five kids do their best in school, at the rink, or on the fields.

In 2006, the couple retired to The Pars in Naples, FL, and lived 20 years in warm temperatures, enjoying sunsets and time with their siblings and incredible newfound friends.

Rusty is predeceased by his sister Marie and her husband George, but survived by Nancy, and their children, Eddie and his wife Kristen, Chris and his wife Missy, Mike and his wife Beth, Kerry, Danny and his wife Jamie. He was blessed with 13 grandchildren and was the proudest and happiest Papa for almost 27 years. He loved his sister Pat and her husband Paul, and all four of Nancy’s siblings and their spouses, here and gone. He also had special relationships with so many of his 16 nieces and nephews.

Visiting Hours will be held in the Farley Funeral Home, 358 Park St. (Rt. 27) Stoughton on Wednesday, September 3 from 4-7 PM. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Immaculate Conception Church, 122 Canton St., Stoughton on Thursday, September 4 at 10:30 AM. In lieu of flowers, donations in Rusty‘s memory may be made to GBS/CIDP Foundation to help find a cure and viable treatments for Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy, GBS/CIDP Foundation, 375 East Elm Street, Suite 101, Conshohocken, PA 19428 (www.gbs-cidp.org/donate).