Edward T. Irwin
Edward (Ed, Eddie) T. Irwin beloved son of the late John J. and Delia (Byrne) Irwin. Loving brother of Marie Norton and her husband Jim of Boston, Joan Connelly and her husband Bob of Florida and the late John J. Jr., formerly of Foxboro. He is also survived by 13 loving nieces and nephews and 16 grandnieces and grandnephews. Eddie was born in Dorchester in 1945. A graduate of St. Mark’s School, Boston Latin and the University of New England B.A. He started student teaching with his beloved Irish Dance teacher, Maureen Hansen Keohane at the age of 14, 2 years later he opened his own School of Irish Dancing. He was joined by his lifelong friend Liz Grady McGuire two years later to become Irwin/Grady and Irwin/McGuire School. Together they taught thousands of children and adults the joys of Irish Dancing. Their students performed all over the United States, Canada and Europe winning Regional, National and World Championships. He and Liz were famous for their brilliant choreographies and Dance/Dramas, as well as, solo and team dancing. He became an adjudicator and has been judging for forty years all over the world. He was a member of AN COIMISIUN, Dublin and Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America and of the New England Region. He has been the NE member of the Scholarship Program of IDTANA for the last 5 years. At the World Championships in 2009, Eddie and Liz were honored with the esteemed Gradam Lifetime Achievement Award. They are extremely proud of their 9 former students who are Certified Dance Teachers today. He always taught that enjoyment and making friendships around the world was vital to all of their students; along with their performance. Ed served in Vietnam in Hau Nghia Province during the “Tet Offensive” in 1968. He was a lifetime member of the DAV in Braintree. He last worked for the US Postal Service at the GMF in Boston. He was an avid sports fan; especially the Red Sox and Patriots. Family, friends and the Irish Dance Community are welcomed to a celebration of his life at a Mass of Christian Burial at Saint Mark’s Church, 1725 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester on Friday, July 11 at 10:30 A.M. Interment to follow at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne. Visitation at the Dolan Funeral Home, 460 Granite Avenue, EAST MILTON on Thursday from 4 to 8 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations in Eddie’s name can be sent to Father’s Bill’s Place at 38 Broad St., Quincy, MA 02169
Guestbook Entries
I was shocked and sorry to read of Eddie’s death. We were in the same grammar school class of 1959. Just a few months ago on a site on Facebook called St. Mark’s, several of us were “talking” back and forth and he sounded very upbeat and happy. His love for and talent in Irish Step was, of course, legendary! His many students over the years will surely never forget him. He was a kind and good person. I’ve lived in Malden now for years but, as Eddie and all our old and dear friends and neighbors said: proud to be OFD(originally from Dorchester). It was a special place in those days. Sending sympathy and prayers to his family at this difficult time. Anne Whalen
Millie and I will always remember Eddie’s bright, shining smile! He had a “wicked” sense of humor which kept us all laughing all the time. He and Liz Grady were Millie’s partners in the three-hand reel “back in the day” and they were part of the “big” 8 hand that was Maureen Hansen-Keohane’s pride and joy!, and they never tired of telling stories about their many adventures at feiseanna and at performances at home and “on the road” in NY and CT. I will always remember Eddie as a very dedicated member of the IDTANA Cyril McNiff Memorial Scholarship Committee. He was very passionate about recognizing and rewarding those dancers who also were committed to academic and personal excellence. He was always first back with his scores and evaluations, and he was very valuable to me with suggestions and recommendations about how to improve our procedures and practices. My own father (Kenny Beaton) used to compliment an especially good person by announcing that that he was a gentlemen and a scholar. Eddie was both, and we will miss him! May he rest in peace. Along with Liz, Steve Carney, Peter Smith, Dennis Dennehy, Ann Richens, Maureen Hansen-Keohane, Helen Madden, Josephine Moran, Margie Quinn (Millie’s sister) and so many more of our friends, he is telling stories and jokes, as well as playing the piano, in heaven at a great ceili that is happening there. God Bless you, Eddie; you are the best! RUSSELL and MILLIE (ALLEN) BEATON