Edward Michael Greaney Jr.

1919 - 2015

GREANEY, Edward Michael, Jr. MD
1919- 2015

On July 14, 2015, Dr. Edward Michael (Mike) Greaney, Jr. died peacefully in his home. Mike was the only son of Edward Michael and Evelyn Greaney, born on May 28, 1919 in Stamford, Connecticut.
He is survived by his children, Mary Ellen Kirst (Bill), Kathleen Delgado (Tony), Michael Greaney (Patty), Patricia Williams (Dick), Gregory Greaney, M.D., (Anne), Margaret Samaniego, (Luis), Elizabeth Phillips, Deirdre Apablasa (John) and Teresa Denison (Michael). Edward is also survived by 26 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife, Mary Cavanaugh Greaney and his daughter Deborah Parker.
Mike is a graduate of Fordham University and Jefferson Medical College. He was commissioned a Lieutenant (junior grade) in the United States Navy Medical Corps in March 1943 immediately after graduation from medical school and began his internship at Brooklyn Naval Hospital.
After combat training at Camp LeJuene, he was assigned as Battalion Surgeon to the 3rd Battalion (Artillery) of the 12th Marine Regiment, of the Third Marine Division. He participated in the Battle of Iwo Jima.
During this tumultuous time, he married the love of his life, Mary Cavanaugh in March of 1943, and the first two of their ten children were born during these war years. After concluding his military service in 1947, he completed a residency in general surgery at the Long Beach Veterans' Hospital in 1951. Dr. Greaney started private practice in general and pediatric surgery and enjoyed a long and distinguished surgical career. He spent the majority of his practice at St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, where he eventually became Chief of Staff in 1962. Dr. Greaney was an adjunct clinical professor at LA County USC Medical Center in the Dept. of Surgery until his retirement in 1989, attaining emeritus status and an honorary lifetime membership in the Society of Graduate Surgeons. He was a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons entering in 1953, and was also a Governor of the College. Among his honors and accomplishments were: President of The Southern Californian Chapter of the American College of Surgeons; President of USC Professional Staff Association; member of Pacific Coast Surgical Association, Western Surgical Association, Society of Surgery in the Alimentary Tract and Los Angeles Surgical Society. He was beloved and respected by the countless patients he treated as well the physicians and nurses with whom he worked over nearly 40 years of surgical practice.
Edward and Mary settled in the San Fernando Valley and were members of St. Francis de Sales Parish, where all the children attended school. They were founding members of the Catholic Physicians Guild and the Right to Life League. Mike was a long-time member of Lakeside Golf Club where he enjoyed playing golf and made many life-long friends. After he retired, Mike and Mary moved to their home on Beach Road in Capistrano. In 2001, they moved to Pasadena to be closer to their children and grandchildren.
The family would like to express our gratitude to Dr. Raul Mena and Providence TrinityCare Hospice for their care in his final months.
Funeral Mass will take place Saturday, July 18th at 10:00 am at Holy Family Church in South Pasadena. Private Internment at San Fernando Mission Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to The Catholic Education Foundation, 3424 Wilshire Blvd. LA, 90010 or The Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center at 181 So. Buena Vista St. Burbank, CA 91505. Cabot & Sons, Pasadena