Edmund Joseph Handley
February 27, 1929 - May 11, 2020
Edmund Joseph Handley passed away peacefully due to natural causes at the Long Island State Veteran’s Home on May 11, 2020 at the age of 91. Born in Astoria, New York on February 27, 1929, Edmund was raised by his single mother, Bridget McGhee Handley, and his older Rowan siblings - Tom, Jane, and Sarah. After graduating from high school, Edmund served in the US Army in Germany during the Korean War. Upon his return, he graduated from Pace University and began work in construction sales in NYC. In the summers, he served as a state lifeguard in Rockaway Beach.
Edmund met his beloved Australian wife Janette (Carter) and married her in 1966. The duo left Queens and moved to the Three Villages in 1969. Together, they raised their four children: Siobhan, Tara, Shannon, and Sean. After retiring from his sales positions in NYC, Edmund and Janette opened Budget Print Center in Stony Brook in 1978. As a small business owner, Edmund, along with his wife, immersed himself in myriad facets of the Three Village community. He was a member of the Stony Brook Rotary and served as its president in 1987. He and Janette were strong believers in the Rotary host student program and hosted five students from various countries while their own children were in high school. Edmund was extremely active in his church parish, St. James in Setauket, and was one of the founding members of its weekly Soup Kitchen called Our Daily Bread. In this capacity, he cooked meals for the homeless for 15 years. Edmund delivered meals through Three Village Meals on Wheels for over 15 years. He spent a great deal of his time at the Stony Brook Yacht Club where he served in many roles over the years. An avid boater, fisherman, and swimmer, he could often be seen on his boat with his kids and one of his many Labrador Retrievers. In 2017, he was presented with a Lifetime Award for his service to the Club. In all of his endeavors, Edmund was known for his love of his family – especially his wife and children and dogs, his generous spirit, his strong belief in “giving back’ to his community, and - most notably- his quick wit and smile.
Edmund is survived by his wife Janette, his children Siobhan Handley (Will Ketterer), Tara McKnight (Todd Rexroth), Shannon Handley (John Grossman), and Sean Handley (Jennifer Lewis Handley), grandchildren Brooks McKnight, Sean Grossman, Maeve Ketterer, Bridget Grossman, Finn Ketterer, and Charlotte Handley, his sister Jane Hickey, loving nieces and nephews, and countless good friends.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations be made in memory of Edmund J. Handley to either:
The Long Island State Veteran’s Home
100 Patriot’s Road
Stony Brook, NY 11790
https://veteranshome.stonybrookmedicine.edu/donate
OR
Hope House Ministries
PO Box 358 / 1 High Street
Port Jefferson, NY 11777
http://www.hhm.org/help.html