Edward George Shannon, a loving husband, father and grandfather, died Friday at his home in Germantown, after battling advanced prostate cancer. He was 58.
He was born December 21, 1956 in New Rochelle, N.Y., to Julia Godfrey Shannon and William George Shannon.
He worked for 19 years at Taconic Biosciences in Germantown and, prior to that, worked for 11 years at Miron Lumber in Kingston. For most of his childhood he lived in New Rochelle, but came north in 1973 to attend Germantown High School.
A diehard Mets fan since childhood, he enjoyed watching his team have such a great start this spring. As his sons grew up, he was a supportive and positive Little League coach.
He was a genuine and kindhearted man who made it a mission to get people smiling and laughing. He often reminded his sons to steer clear of negative people. He regarded the way a person treats any other person as the best measure of their character.
In an interview with his younger son this year, he talked about an at-times hectic childhood in New Rochelle; of finding a haven in Germantown as a teenager. He talked of meeting some of his best friends and of meeting the love of his life and settling down with her. He talked of the struggles and the silver linings that come with battling an aggressive disease; of his experiences in fatherhood; and of the joy in becoming a grandfather.
When asked to give advice to his grandchildren, he said in part:
“Follow your heart. Love and be loved. Be honest and be true to yourself. Try to do that every day—day in, day out. If there’s any opportunity where you can help somebody, always help them. That person’ll benefit, but you’ll benefit even more… Laugh a lot. Try to make somebody laugh. Put a smile on somebody’s face one way or another, when you can. If it’s possible that day, put a smile on somebody’s face.”
He is survived by his wife of more than 32 years, Eileen; his older son, Thomas, of Endwell, N.Y., and his younger son, William, of Germantown; a brother, James, of Clermont; a sister, Patricia, of Dumont, N.J.; a daughter-in-law, Mary Kane Shannon, of Endwell; and granddaughters Adelaide and Genevieve, of Endwell. He was predeceased by his parents.
Calling hours will be Tuesday, May 5, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Yadack-Fox Funeral Home in Germantown. A funeral service will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m., also at Yadack-Fox.
In lieu of flowers he asked donations be made to the Germantown Park Commission (50 Palatine Park Road) or to Southern Columbia Little League.