Edward Joseph Mahoney

Edward Joseph Mahoney, Jr., 83, died on Saturday, March 24, 2007 at St. John’s Hospital. He was born July 7, 1923 in Jacksonville, IL, the son of Edward J. Mahoney, Sr. and E. Mercedes Connor Mahoney. He married Clara-Marie Norcross on June 21, 1947. He was preceded in death by his wife, Clara-Marie; his parents; and a sister, Rosemary Mahoney Cernich. Ed graduated from Cathedral Boys’ High School and attended Springfield College in Illinois and the University of Notre Dame. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and the Korean War. Ed began his career in radio at WCVS Radio in Springfield in September 1946. He began doing outdoor programs while at WCVS. During that time, he also developed a state-wide radio program for the Department of Conservation, “Outdoors in Illinois”. He worked for WTAX radio for over 54 years. He hosted the “Sports Outdoors” program, which ran every Saturday morning for over 37 years. He was named “Best Radio Commercial Voice in Springfield” by the State Journal Register. He was a member of several professional organizations, including the Gateway Chapter of the National Agri-Marketing Association, the Outdoor Writers of America, and its regional Association of Great Lake Outdoor Writers (AGLOW). He was a past president of AGLOW and received their Excellence in Craft Award. In 1998, Ed received the Native Sons and Daughters Award from the Illinois Conservation Foundation. He is a member of the Springfield Sports Hall of Fame as a Friend of Sport. Ed was one of the founders of the Lincolnland Hunter Safety Volunteer Instructor Group, and served as an instructor for over 30 years. Ed was very active in various conservation-oriented associations including Ducks Unlimited, Illinois Duck and Goose Hunters Association and State Hunter, Landowner Relations Committee. He was an active member and past president of the Springfield Downtown Kiwanis, and received their Outstanding Club Leadership Award and the Hixson Award. He has belonged to Little Flower Parish since 1952, was a past president of the Little Flower Men’s club and received the organization’s Outstanding Service Award. Ed was a member of Knights of Columbus Post 4179 and American Legion Post 32. He was a former committeeman for the Abraham Lincoln Council of Boy Scouts, and a past member of the Alumni Board of Sacred Heart-Griffin High School. In 2001, Ed was named to the Sacred Heart-Griffin Hall of Fame. Ed is survived by three sons: Ed (wife, Sue) Mahoney, III of Springfield, Dennis (wife, Mary) Mahoney of Naperville and Tim Mahoney of Bedford, TX; three daughters: Maureen (husband, Bob) Best of Chatham, Bridget (husband, Ollie) De Priest of Springfield and Cecilia (husband, Brian) Sugrue of Crystal Lake; eleven grandchildren: Kiersten (husband, John) Pagani, Katie Best, Rose DePriest, Molly, Peter, Michael, Alison and Van Mahoney and Brendan, Ian and Christina Sugrue; two great-grandchildren: Nathaniel and Elizabeth Pagani; one brother: George Mahoney of Stillwater, OK; one sister: Rita Knox of Keokuk, IA; one brother-in-law: H. Lee Cernich of Springfield; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Family will receive friends from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Monday, March 26, 2007 at Kirlin-Egan and Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield. Visitation will begin with a prayer service at 4:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 27, 2007 at Church of the Little Flower, 800 Adlai Stevenson Dr., Springfield, with Rev. Chuck Edwards, celebrant. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery where the Interveterans Burial Detail of Sangamon County will provide military honors. Memorial contributions may be made to: Edward J. Mahoney/Michael McEvoy Scholarship Fund at Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, 1200 West Washington, Springfield, IL 62704. The family of Edward Joseph Mahoney, Jr. is being served by Kirlin-Egan and Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield.