1925
Edward
2012
Edward J. Gandy
December 10, 1925 — March 11, 2012
He was born in Winchendon on December 10, 1925, the son of the late Matthew and Mary Frances (O’Hara) Gandy and lived in Winchendon until moving to Vero Beach this past fall.
Ed worked as a design engineer for Honeywell from 1972 to 1984. He then worked for Madison Wire and Cable in Worcester for twelve years until his retirement in 1996. He enjoyed deep sea fishing and was an avid collector of coins.
A career Navy man, Ed spent most of his time serving on submarines, and was a qualified deep sea diver, covering three war era’s, WWII, Korea and Vietnam. He served as a torpedo man on the USS Bang and the USS Finback. While on the Finback patrolling off the Japanese Island of Chichi-Jima, his sub rescued downed pilot Lt. George Herbert Walker Bush, later becoming our 41st President, just four hours before Japanese fish boats could reach him. While serving, his submarines sank a total of 18 enemy warships.
Locally, Ed was loved and respected by all, who knew him. Ed was a 50 year member of Eugene M. Connor Post 193 and was very instrumental in the formation of the Sons Squadron at the Legion. He would often serve as chaplain, visiting sick members and participating in military ceremonies. Proud of his service, he spoke each year to 7th and 8th grade students about his times on the submarine. At the Legion facility, there is a corner, known as “Ed Gandy Corner”, where there are several pictures and commendations from President Bush and others, of Ed. In his later years, when he needed his walker to navigate, he was fondly nicknamed “Fast Eddie.”
Ed was a member of The Winchendon Lions Club, Artisan Lodge of Masons, The Forty & Eight Organization of the American Legion, Winchendon Rod and Gun Club (where he always donated each year to its Annual Children’s Fishing Derby), VFW Post 6997 in York, Maine and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. He was also a life member of Lt. Frederick Wilder White Post 2158 VFW and a member of the Elks in York, Maine. Ed was a former member the Winchendon Historical Society and the Bingo Committee at the Legion. Ed enjoyed dancing to the big band sound, such as jitter bugging, playing cribbage and hunting for deer in his younger days. Ed was a lifelong fan of the New York Yankees.
His wife of 52 years, Mary Ann (Lemire) Gandy, died in 2002. He leaves two children, Jane E. Draeger and her husband, Kenneth of Vero Beach, FL and David M. Gandy of Winchendon and a granddaughter, Gretchen J. Draeger; a cousin, Betty Ashmore of Winchendon, as well as nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by his brothers and sisters, Alice Conway, Edith Gandy, Margaret Columbus, Charles Gandy, and Matthew Gandy.
Calling hours will be held in Stone-Ladeau Funeral Home, 343 Central Street, Winchendon on Saturday, April 14th from 9 to 11 AM. Members of Eugene M. Connor Post 193 American Legion will conduct a military service at 10:30 AM.
Burial, with full military honors, will follow at 11:30 A.M. in Riverside Cemetery. A reception will follow at the Eugene M. Connor Post #193 American Legion.
Memorial donations may be made to Eugene M. Connor Post 193 American Legion, PO Box 116, Winchendon, MA 01475.
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