Edward C. Gaal

January 8,1927 - May 21, 2023

Passed peacefully surrounded by loving family.

As a child Ed watched airplanes flying into and out of LaGuardia, he also witnessed the Hindenburg flying over his childhood home. This fostered his love of aviation. He attended Woodrow Wilson Vocational High School and began studying airplane mechanics. After High School he worked for Trans Western Airlines (TWA) as Fleet Service Helper. At 18 years of age he enlisted in the US Navy advancing to Specialist Class as Plane Captain, ensuring planes were airworthy and mechanically sound before pilots flew their missions.

After being honorably discharged by the Navy he graduated from Kilbs Design School where he met and married Margaret Haas. He worked for Republic Aviation doing critical design work on the F84, RF84, RF105. He worked at Sikorsky Aircraft on the 58 Helicopter. He finished his working career at Perkin Elmer where he worked on the Hubble Space Telescope and several other programs critical to our nation. He proudly professed his love of our country and spent his entire working life contributing to science and our country’s safety. He helped build a model of the Hubble space telescope, proudly displayed at the Smithsonian Institute for Air and Space in Washington DC.

Ed, enjoyed wearing his WWII Veteran hat and chatting with anyone who approached him about it. “I wear this hat to honor of all those that didn’t make it back” he’d often say. He enjoyed playing cards, sailing his model boat and working on projects around the house. He was also a very talented painter and enjoyed laughing and telling stories.

He is predeceased by: Parents Stephen and Clara Roth Gaal, First Wife Margaret, Sister Dorothy, and Brother Stephen.

He is survived by his second wife Beatrice Heyde, Children Christopher (Beverly), Elizabeth, Grandchildren Lindsey and Amanda.

A celebration of life is currently being planned.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hodgesfhatnaplesmg.com for the Gaal family.