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Captain Edwin J. Mooney Jr., born in Teaneck, N.J., in 1929, started working for Fire Island Ferries as a deckhand after moving to Bay Shore in 1948.
Twenty-four years later, in 1972, he would come to purchase the company, and proceed to grow it to Fire Island’s largest ferry provider.
Fire Island Ferries now services well over 1 million people annually.
He penned a book chronicling that journey: Ferries to Fire Island.
On Tuesday, Dec. 29, the good captain set sail for his last trip around Great South Bay in a tribute the company posted to its Facebook feed. The post included one particular moving photo of a flag-draped casket.
“Stories were shared, his life celebrated, and good byes said,” the post reads. “And for any who sailed with him on his Sunday shifts, Moon “unwound” on his final send off.
“For those unsure what that means… our course took us East way from North channel to range to East and ended in West channel, a path Ed took each Sunday on his shift’s last trip. As the log book says, Farewell Captain Ed Mooney.
“It was the greatest honor to captain your last ‘unwind.'”
Captain Ed Mooney passed away on Dec. 26.
He was 81.
Scroll down for the obituary and full Facebook post.
obituary |
Source: Fredrick J. Chapey & Sons Funeral Home
Captain Edwin J., Jr., of West Islip, L.I., on Dec. 26, 2020.
Beloved husband of the late Patricia Ann “Pat.” Devoted father of Michael Mooney, Timothy and his wife Jane Mooney, and Casey and her husband Raymond Cassino. Cherished grandfather of Brendan and his wife Stacey, Kelley, Morgan, Brittany, Michele Malaxos and her husband Nick, James Cassino and his wife Grace, Michael, Christopher, and the late Brian Mooney. Dear brother of Robert Mooney, Joan Schoeffel and predeceased by sisters, Edna, Marie and Sue. Proud Veteran of the United States Army.
Born in Teaneck, N.J.; came to Bay Shore in 1948 and started working at the Fire Island Ferries the same year. Ed purchased Fire Island Ferries in 1972 and has grown the business to what it is today.
Final Resting Place
Wednesday, December 30, 2020, St. Patrick’s Cemetery at 225 Brentwood Road, Bay Shore, New York, United States, 11706.
