Former Lynbrook resident Edward Dale dies

Edward Dale

Former Lynbrook resident Edward William Dale died surrounded by family on Oct. 11 after a long battle with cancer. He was 77.

Dale was born on May 16, 1944, in Queens, to his parents Catherine Rita Dale (formerly Kiley) and William Thomas Dale. He is remembered for his boundless optimism, generosity and contended spirit, which remained powerfully present throughout his life.

Dale spent his childhood with his parents and sister, Carol, in Hewlett and then Lynbrook, attending St. Joachim’s School and Hewlett High School. He shared endless stories of adventure and mischief with his large extended family, always resulting in displeased nuns — especially with his cousins, Jim and Kevin Kiley.

He chose to leave college and enlist in the Navy in 1963. He traveled the world on the U.S.S. Shangri-La and made the rank of E5 in three short years. In 1966, Dale was assigned to the River Patrol Force at Can Tho, Vietnam. He spent that harrowing and life-altering year completing missions along the Mekong Delta.

Just five weeks after being honorably discharged from military service in 1967, Dale began his long career with IBM in Manhattan. He worked in various departments over the decades, including finance, marketing and manpower planning. He was a loyal employee and loved his time as a company man with IBM, eventually working in the Cranford, N.J. office, where he raised his children, Renee and Eric, with his wife, Linda Dale. Although he moved back to Lynbrook when he retired, Cranford remained one of his favorite places, filled with joyful memories and some of the most fulfilling years of his life as a family man.

In addition to accomplishing his life’s mission of being a devoted father with happy and well-loved children, he took on his best-suited role ever as a grandfather. First, to his favorite people on Earth, Griffin Henry and Gatsby Jane Astrid, and later to his beloved step-grandkids, Roan and Dory. There are no words to capture how deeply he loved them, how focused he was on the details, small and large, of their lives. When Griffin was a toddler, he began calling Dale “Whitebeard” due to his soft, snowy beard and Griffin’s interest in pirates. The name stuck and that was how he was known to all of his grandchildren going forward. It’s impossible to overstate the love and pride he expressed every single day for them, without fail, and with burning interest. He frequently requested every update on their lives, and could frequently be found in his big, overstuffed chair waiting to greet his family. His pure goodness as a person was an inspiration to his grandchildren and will continue to be as they grow to adulthood.

Dale loved the study of history, including World War II, as well as politics, civics, the cosmos, his “lowly” Mets and Jets, and NBA basketball. He was a voracious reader, loved math and numbers, along with TV shows like “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “The Wire” and many other shows and films that he relished analyzing and discussing. Dale was incredibly funny. His blue eyes sparkled with laughter and shined with kindness. He gave to numerous charities benefiting children and also wounded veterans, which in many ways, he was himself.

Dale is survived by his daughter, Renee; his son, Eric; sons-in-law, Brendan Vaughan and Andrew Gallagher; his adored grandchildren, Griffin and Gatsby Feather, and Roan and Dory Vaughan; his loving sister, Carol Christy; his beloved nephews, John Christy (Monica), Scott Christy and Brian Christy; and numerous great-nieces and nephews. Dale was particularly grateful to his eldest nephew, John, for all he did for him, for their enduring father/son-like bond and for John’s independence and sense of humor, things Ed valued greatly in people.

Additionally, Dale will be remembered by many childhood friends who shared their lives and experiences along the way, beginning back at St. Joachim’s School. The world feels lonelier without Dale in it, but still far better for him having been among us all. We are heartbroken, but truly honored he was ours.

Visitation for Dale is set for Perry Funeral Home in Lynbrook on Nov. 5 from 9 to 11 a.m., followed by his funeral service at Calverton National Cemetery in Riverhead at 12:30 p.m. All family and friends are welcome.

In remembrance of Dale’s life, the family asks that any charitable donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.