Edward M. Kelleher

1944 - 2023

KELLEHER, Edward M., 79, of North Chesterfield, Va., passed away at Bon Secours Community Hospice House on February 25, 2023, after a prolonged battle with cancer. He is survived by his loving and dedicated wife, Emily Kelleher; and three daughters from a previous marriage, April Marie Mendis (Nicholas) of Montclair, Va., Fumi Mariana Kelleher Carlson (Zachary) of Birkenfeld, Ore.; and Ulala Kelleher Sakashita (Hideshi) of Kobe, Japan. Ed was the fourth of five children born to J. Michael Kelleher Sr. and Marie Krafft Kelleher. He was born in Richmond, Va., in February 1944 and was named after his father's lifelong friend Ed Kusterer, who was serving in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theater. He was predeceased by a sister, Marie Kelleher Harris; and is further survived by three brothers, Joseph M. Kelleher Jr. of Henrico, Patrick T. Kelleher of Mechanicsville and Francis J. Kelleher of Powhatan. Other survivors include six grandchildren, Zoe Marie Mendis and Eleni Luanne Mendis of Montclair; and Yamato Sakashita, Reina Sakashita, Nao Sakashita and Emi Sakashita, all of Kobe, Japan; a sister-in-law, Yoko Wada (Morihiro), of Saitama, Japan; and 10 adoring nieces and nephews. Efforts to educate Ed, with varying degrees of success, were made at St. Paul's Catholic School and Benedictine High School in Richmond, at Wheeling College in Wheeling, W.Va. and in the U.S. Air Force and Virginia Air National Guard. Ed dedicated his life to journalism with a career that took him to Tokyo and Guam before bringing him back to Richmond, where he spent 32 years at the Richmond News Leader and Richmond Times-Dispatch. Running, community service, photography, keeping up with local sports, and Ed and Emily's loyal Yorkies, Choppy (now deceased) and Jiro, filled Ed's post-retirement days with meaning and joy.

Funeral services will be privately held at a later date.