Some people pass through this world quietly. Others leave a mark so deep that those who knew them spend years trying to put it into words. Edward Joseph Connerty Sr. was the second kind of person.
When the Edward Connerty obituary was published in April 2023, tributes poured in from family, coworkers, neighbors, and friends. People described him as a gentleman, a role model, a devoted husband, and a man who was genuinely at home anywhere outdoors — whether that was on a ski slope in New Hampshire or beside a campfire with people he loved. He was 81 years old. And by all accounts, he lived every single one of those years with purpose.
This tribute takes a deeper look at who Edward Connerty Sr. truly was — his early life, his military service, his remarkable career, his family, and the legacy he left behind.
Who Was Edward Connerty Sr.?
A Cambridge Boy Who Built His Life from the Ground Up
Edward Joseph Connerty Sr. was born on July 29, 1941, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He grew up in Somerville and Quincy, in the Adams Shore neighborhood — working-class communities where hard work wasn’t just respected, it was expected.
He wasn’t handed anything. He earned it. That’s the kind of man he was from the very beginning.
He attended North Cambridge Catholic High School, where he graduated and began to lay the groundwork for a life of discipline, integrity, and family-first values. Everything that came after — the Navy, the ironwork, the marriage, the children, the grandchildren — you can trace the roots of it all back to that upbringing.
Family Roots and Early Education
Edward was the son of the late James E. Connerty and Grace (Keefe) Connerty. He grew up in a household that valued faith, community, and honest labor. Those values didn’t just stick with him — they became the foundation of everything he later built.
His siblings included the late Elinor Theriault, the late James Connerty, and the late Raymond Connerty. The bonds formed in that family shaped the kind of brother, husband, and father he would become.
A Proud Naval Veteran Who Served His Country
Edward’s Time in the United States Navy
Before he ever put on a hard hat or welded a beam, Edward Connerty put on a uniform.
He served as a member of the United States Navy, and that service took him far beyond the borders of Massachusetts. Through the Navy, he got to see parts of the world that most young men from Cambridge could only dream about — parts of the globe that, decades later, he and Alice would still return to in their travels together.
His time in the military wasn’t just an adventure. It was a defining chapter of his character.
How Military Service Shaped the Man He Became
Veterans often say that the discipline, camaraderie, and sense of duty they develop during service stays with them forever. For Edward, that rang true.
His coworkers later described him as a man of integrity. His family remembered him as someone who took responsibility seriously and showed up — not just when it was convenient, but every single time. That’s not an accident. That’s what service does to a person when they take it to heart.
Edward Connerty’s 45-Year Career as an Ironworker
A Member of Local 7 Ironworkers Union
Here’s something remarkable: Edward Connerty spent 45 years — nearly half a century — as a proud member of Local 7 Ironworkers Union in Massachusetts. That’s not a job. That’s a calling.
Ironworking is demanding, dangerous, and physically intense work. It requires precision, courage, and the kind of commitment that most people can’t sustain for a decade, let alone five. Edward did it for 45 years. And he didn’t just show up — he excelled.
Helping Build Boston’s Skyline, One Steel Beam at a Time
Next time you look at the skyline of Boston and see those towers reaching into the sky, think about the men and women who actually built them. Edward Connerty was one of them.
He helped construct the modern city of Boston over the course of his career. That’s a legacy that literally stands tall over the city where he was born. It’s the kind of contribution that doesn’t fade with time — it’s right there in glass and steel for anyone who looks up.
It’s a rare thing to leave your mark on a city. Edward did it every working day for 45 years.
Remembered as a Dedicated Safety Steward
Beyond the physical work, Edward served as a safety steward on ironworking job sites. A coworker who left a message in his guest book put it simply: he was a dedicated safety steward and a fine gentleman, and it was an honor to have worked with him.
Safety stewards don’t get the headlines. They’re the ones behind the scenes, making sure everyone goes home at the end of the day. That’s a job that takes character. And Edward had it in abundance.
The Heart of His Home — Husband, Father, and Grandfather
His Best Friend and Beloved Wife, Alice
One of the most touching moments from the tributes left for Edward came from a friend who wrote that they cried reading about “his best friend Alice.” Because that’s exactly how he saw her — not just as his wife, but as his best friend.
Alice Murphy Connerty was the woman he built his life with. After his military service, Edward married Alice and they moved to Norwell, Massachusetts — a town that would become the heart of the Connerty family story. Together, they traveled across America, explored Europe, and visited the Caribbean islands. They were inseparable in the way that long marriages sometimes produce — two people who genuinely preferred each other’s company above anyone else’s.
That kind of love doesn’t happen by accident. It takes showing up, day after day, year after year. Edward clearly understood that.
A Devoted Father of Four
Edward and Alice raised four children: Edward Connerty Jr. and his wife Colleen of Norwell, Mark Connerty of Norwell, Kara Connerty of Norwell, and Brian Connerty and his wife Kendall of Hanover.
He was proud of his four children and his two daughters-in-law. Those who knew the family described Edward as a role model — someone whose legacy wasn’t just what he built in steel, but what he built at home. One tribute simply said: “His legacy is the amazing family that was blessed to have him as a role model.”
For Kara, who was remembered as a soccer coach, her father was always there in the stands, cheering her on. That kind of consistent, present fatherhood leaves a mark that lasts a lifetime.
Eight Grandchildren Who Were the Light of His Life
Edward was the loving grandfather of Catherine, Grace, and Allison of Norwell, Matthew, Emma, Nora, and Tyler of Hanover, and Chloe of Norwell. Eight grandchildren. Each one a reason to keep skiing just a little longer, to stay one more hour at the beach, to tell one more story around a campfire.
He loved those grandchildren fiercely. And everything he did in his later years — the summers on Nantasket, the winters in New Hampshire, the outdoor adventures — he did with them beside him.
Edward’s Great Love of the Outdoors
Summers on Nantasket Beach
There’s something about a beach that brings a family together in a way that nothing else quite can. For the Connerty family, that place was Nantasket Beach. Ed loved summering there with his eight grandchildren — building memories that his family will carry forward for generations.
You can almost picture it: the grandkids in the surf, Alice watching from a blanket, Ed somewhere in the middle of it all, exactly where he wanted to be.
Skiing Cannon Mountain Until Age 80
This is the detail that says everything about the man.
Edward Connerty didn’t just ski in his younger years. He took his grandchildren to the slopes of Cannon Mountain in New Hampshire every winter — and he didn’t hang up his skis until he was 80 years old. Eighty. Most people half his age never made it down a ski slope in their lives.
He finally stopped at 80. Not because he had to. Just because, at some point, even the most determined ironworker decides he’s earned a rest.
Kayaking, Biking, and Living Fully
The outdoors wasn’t just a hobby for Edward — it was a way of life. He biked the Cape Cod Canal. He kayaked the North River. He split wood and brought people together around a fire. He was, as his obituary captured beautifully, most at home outdoors.
That kind of active, engaged, physical life — maintained well into old age — is a testament to his spirit. He didn’t slow down until life required it.
Traveling the World with Alice by His Side
Edward and Alice didn’t just stay in Massachusetts. They saw most of America together. They explored Europe. They visited the Caribbean islands. And in his years of service, Edward had already seen large portions of the rest of the world through the Navy.
For a boy born in Cambridge in 1941, that’s a remarkable life of travel and adventure. It speaks to his curiosity, his energy, and his deep love for the woman who shared every journey with him.
Faith, Community, and Final Services
Visitation at McNamara-Sparrell Funeral Home
Visiting hours for Edward Joseph Connerty Sr. were held on Sunday, April 23, 2023, from 3:00 to 7:00 PM at the McNamara-Sparrell Funeral Home, located at 1 Summer Street, Cohasset, Massachusetts.
The McNamara-Sparrell Funeral Home has served the South Shore community for years and handled the Connerty family’s services with care and compassion.
Mass of Christian Burial at St. Mary of the Nativity
The Mass of Christian Burial was held on Monday, April 24, 2023, at 10:00 AM at St. Mary of the Nativity, located at 1 Kent Street, Scituate, Massachusetts. Faith was a thread that ran through Edward’s life, and it was only fitting that his final farewell took place within the Church.
Interment at Stetson Meadows Cemetery, Norwell
Following the Mass, Edward was laid to rest at Stetson Meadows Cemetery in Norwell, Massachusetts — the town he called home, the place where he built his family and lived his life.
How to Honor Edward Connerty’s Memory
Donating to the American Heart Association in His Name
In lieu of flowers, Edward’s family requested that friends and loved ones consider making a donation to the American Heart Association. Donations can be made at heart.org or mailed to: American Heart Association, PO Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692.
It’s a meaningful way to keep his memory alive while supporting a cause that helps countless families.
Planting a Memorial Tree
Through McNamara-Sparrell Funeral Home’s Tree Store, visitors can plant a memorial tree in Edward’s honor. It’s a living tribute — the kind that grows stronger with time, just as his memory will among those who loved him.
Signing the Online Guest Book
Friends, coworkers, and loved ones can sign the online guest book at legacy.com or through the McNamara-Sparrell website. The outpouring of messages already left there — from fellow ironworkers, camping trip companions, soccer parents, and family friends — paints a picture of a man who touched more lives than he may have ever realized.
The Lasting Legacy of Edward Connerty Sr.
There are people who live long lives but leave little trace. And then there are people like Edward Connerty Sr. — people whose fingerprints are everywhere.
They’re in the steel beams of Boston’s skyline. They’re on a snow-covered mountain in New Hampshire. They’re on a kayak on the North River, and on a bike path along the Cape Cod Canal. They’re in the memories of eight grandchildren who grew up knowing what it felt like to be deeply, unconditionally loved by a grandfather who never had a half-measure in him.
Edward died on Sunday, April 16, 2023, at 81 years old. He was beloved by his family. He was respected by his coworkers. He was remembered by his friends as a true gentleman.
That’s a legacy worth writing about. That’s a life worth celebrating.
Frequently Asked Questions About Edward Connerty’s Obituary
Who was Edward Connerty Sr.? Edward Joseph Connerty Sr. was an 81-year-old resident of Norwell, Massachusetts, who passed away on April 16, 2023. He was a U.S. Navy veteran, a 45-year member of Local 7 Ironworkers Union, a devoted husband to Alice (Murphy) Connerty, and the father of four children and grandfather of eight grandchildren.
When did Edward Connerty of Norwell, MA pass away? Edward Connerty Sr. passed away on Sunday, April 16, 2023, at the age of 81.
Where was the funeral service held for Edward Connerty? Visiting hours were held at McNamara-Sparrell Funeral Home in Cohasset, MA on April 23, 2023. His Mass of Christian Burial took place on April 24, 2023, at St. Mary of the Nativity in Scituate, MA.
What was Edward Connerty’s occupation? Edward spent 45 years as a proud member of Local 7 Ironworkers Union, helping build the Boston skyline. He also served as a safety steward on ironworking job sites.
Did Edward Connerty serve in the military? Yes. Edward served as a member of the United States Navy and saw much of the world during his military service.
Where is Edward Connerty buried? Edward Joseph Connerty Sr. was laid to rest at Stetson Meadows Cemetery in Norwell, Massachusetts.
How can I honor Edward Connerty’s memory? The Connerty family requested donations to the American Heart Association at heart.org. You can also plant a memorial tree through the McNamara-Sparrell Funeral Home Tree Store or sign the online guest book on legacy.com.
Where can I read the original Edward Connerty obituary? The original obituary was published by the Boston Globe and Boston Herald, and is available on legacy.com. The full memorial page is also hosted at mcnamara-sparrell.com.