Edmund Tivnan

Edmund L. "Linc" Tivnan, 92

WORCESTER - Edmund Lincoln "Linc" Tivnan, 92, of Worcester and Harwich, a retired Commander in the U.S. Navy, died peacefully in his Worcester home, surrounded by family, on Tuesday, June 13, 2017.

Linc leaves his wife of 64 years, Jean (Costello) Tivnan; five children, Paul B. Tivnan and his wife Paige of Sandwich, Thomas P. Tivnan and his wife Bobbie of Milton, Georgia, James M. Tivnan of Worcester and formerly of Holden, John L. Tivnan and his wife Christine Faraci of Scottsdale, Ariz., and J. Milissa Gravois and her husband Patrick of Austin, Texas; twelve grandchildren, Remy, Callie, Sean, Jared, Jennifer, Matthew, Katelyn, Erin, Alana, Skylar, Evan, and Lincoln; a daughter-in-law Sarah Tivnan of Bolton and her children Jacob and Jennifer Carlson; the children of Christine Faraci: Adam, Stephen and Jordan Marzola; five great-grandchildren, Liam, Luke, Levi, Leah and Isla; a sister Mary Jane Kelley of West Palm Beach, Fla., and many nieces and nephews.

His son, U.S. Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Robert E. Tivnan died in 2014. He was also predeceased by his brothers, Joseph and Eugene Tivnan and his sisters, Nancy Pedersen and Elizabeth Ann Deely.

Linc was born in Worcester, son of Joseph and Beatrice I. (Miller) Tivnan and was a life-long resident of Worcester.

After graduating from the former Classical High School in Worcester, Linc enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He trained as a pilot and earned his wings of gold as a Naval aviator, including programs at Middlebury College in Vermont and the University of North Carolina. He was training for special combat missions in the Asiatic-Pacific as a pilot of a carrier-based Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber when World War II ended.

Following three years of active duty, Linc continued his military service as a pilot in the U.S. Naval Reserves, where he flew the Grumman AF-2 Guardian and S-2 Tracker in anti-submarine warfare. He was flying primarily out of NAS South Weymouth and was commanding officer of OPCON 14Z5 NAS Brunswick, presented with the Noel Davis Trophy. He retired in 1975 after 32 years of service in the Navy. Linc loved his country and was fiercely proud of his service in the Navy.

Linc also graduated from Clark University in Worcester, where he was a member of Kappa Phi.

Linc was senior sales executive at Sani-Mate Supply, Inc. in Worcester for 29 years, retiring in 2004. Previously, he had worked for the Cristy Drygas Co. and Paper-Trading Co., and the Worcester Chamber of Commerce.

Linc was a member of Our Lady of the Rosary Church, The Reserve Officers Association, The American Legion, and the Heritage Foundation.

Linc was an avid alpine skier and a former president of the Worcester Ski Club. He coached baseball in the Tris Speaker Little League for many years, and was a Deputy Sheriff of Worcester County. He enjoyed the beaches of Maine and Cape Cod.

Linc's family wishes to thank his caretakers, Donna, Judy, and Lucy, and the staff of the VNA Hospice program.

Calling hours are Monday, June 19, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Athy Memorial Home, 111 Lancaster St., Worcester. The funeral will be held Tuesday, June 20, from the funeral home with a Mass at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 25 Fales St., Worcester. Burial will be Wednesday, June 21 at 10:30 a.m. at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Veterans Inc., 69 Grove St., Worcester, MA 01605.