Edward F. McLaughlin, 72, died Thursday, June 23, 2011 at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington following a brief illness. He was the husband of Claire J. (McGillis) McLaughlin, with whom he shared 49 years of marriage.
Born in Salem on Aug. 22, 1938, he was the son of the late Charles and Frances (Farnsworth) McLaughlin. He was raised and educated in Salem and was a graduate of Salem High School, Class of 1957. He then served honorably in the U.S. Navy from 1957 until 1961.
A thirty year veteran and beloved member of the Danvers Fire Department, Ed was appointed to the department on April 21, 1968 and served proudly until his retirement on November 18, 1998. He was also employed by Lyons Ambulance Service for nearly forty years where he served in various roles, and was one of the first licensed EMT-Intermediates trained to give advanced life support in the region. He was a recipient of the American Ambulance Association’s Star of Life Award in 1999.
A Danvers resident for the last forty-four years, Ed was a member of the Holy Trinity United Methodist Church and longtime board member and past president of Walnut Grove Cemetery. He was a member of the Polish Club, where he served as social representative and willing volunteer, and served as an election warden for the Town of Danvers in Precinct 8. An avid golfer and hunter, Ed enjoyed spending time at Moosehead Lake in Maine each year fishing and snowmobiling.
In addition to his loving wife, he leaves his daughter, Debora Twiss, and a granddaughter, Jessica Twiss, both of Peabody, his twin brother Robert McLaughlin and his wife Frances of Peabody, his brother Richard McLaughlin and his wife Elaine of Wilmington, and his sister Carol Freeman and her husband Donald of Leominster. He was predeceased by his son, Edward A. McLaughlin.
His Funeral Service will be Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at 10AM in the Holy Trinity United Methodist Church, 16 Sylvan St., Danvers. Burial will follow in Walnut Grove Cemetery, Danvers. Relatives and friends are invited. Visiting hours are Monday from 4-8PM in C.R. Lyons & Sons, Funeral Directors, 28 Elm St., Danvers Square. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of the North Shore, 75 Sylvan St., Danvers, MA 01923.