Edward Thomas O’Leary

1951 - 2024

Edward Thomas O'Leary, 72, of Foxborough, MA, known to many as "Officer Friendly" or "Chief" passed away peacefully in his sleep after a courageous battle with Alzheimer's Disease. Edward leaves behind a legacy of dedicated service to his community, a profound love for his family, and a record number of mysteries checked out of the Boyden Library.

He was born on September 15, 1951, to Thomas and Madeline O'Leary. He grew up in Mansfield and then Foxborough, where he spent time on the links of Foxborough Country Club with his father. He graduated from Foxborough High School in 1969, and from Stonehill College in 1973. He played on the golf team in both high school and college. At Stonehill he met the love of his life and future wife Claudia. Stonehill was also where he committed to a career in public service and majored in criminal justice.

After graduation, Edward and Claudia married and moved to Vermont. He kicked off a 43 year law enforcement career when he became a patrol officer in the Burlington, VT, Police Department. After four years, he transferred to the Foxborough Police Department where he would serve the community for decades. He went on to earn his master's degree in public administration in 1980 from Suffolk University while working first as a patrol officer then sergeant. He was promoted to chief in 1985 and served until he retired in 2016. After his retirement, he proudly served as Selectperson for a term in the town that he loved.

A generation of children grew up calling him Officer Friendly, and he made Foxborough proud as a graduate of the FBI Academy. His many professional accomplishments are too numerous to count, and he would instead point you to his marriage and family as his most important successes. Edward was a devoted family man. He shared over 50 years of marriage with his beloved Claudia, creating a home filled with love, laughter, and the joys of raising a big family. He is survived by his wife Claudia; their six children: Jessica, Kate, Nicholas, Alexander, Spenser, and Emma; his eight grandchildren: Javante, Madeline, Sadie, Mackenzie, Henry, Harper, Edie, and Walter; and his sisters Ellen and Nora.

Edward will be remembered for his kindness, sense of humor, and the genuine care he showed to those around him. His impact on the Foxborough community and the lives of all he touched are immeasurable. He leaves a void that will be deeply felt by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Calling hours will be Tuesday, August 13 from 4PM - 8PM at Roberts Funeral Home. The service will be Wednesday, August 14, at 11AM at St. Mary's Church in Foxboro. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association https://www.alz.org/ or the Friends of Boyden Library https://boydenlibrary.org/friends-library