Edward F. Leary, Jr., 91 of Dartmouth, formerly of Fairhaven and Venice, FL, passed away at St. Luke's Hospital on Friday, January 17, 2025, after a brief illness.

Born in New Bedford, he was the son of the late Edward F. Leary and Anna Gertrude (McGrath) Leary. Ed was the husband of the late Theresa S. (Ottavianelli) Leary. Sweethearts until the end, they were married nearly 67 years before Theresa passed away in 2022.

Ed graduated from Monsignor Coyle High School in Taunton and Bryant College in Rhode Island. He served as a corpsman in the U.S, Navy during the Korean War. Ed was part owner of Johns-Manville Insulation and Roofing, Inc. For 30 years, he enjoyed spending winters living in Venice, Florida doing what he loved most, golfing.

Ed was a longtime communicant of St. Francis of Assisi Church in New Bedford. He was a Past President of the New Bedford Jaycees and a member of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, the New Bedford Board of Realtors, the Big Brother Program, and the New Bedford Municipal Golf Course; He was the co-founder of the New Bedford Zoological Society and was instrumental in acquiring Emily the Elephant for the Buttonwood Park Zoo.

Survivors include his son, Timothy P. Leary and his wife Karen of Dartmouth, MA; his daughter, Kristine Rowland and her husband, Randy Bringman of Hickory, NC; three grandchildren, Kathryn Leary of Dartmouth, MA; and Luke and Jacob Rowland, both of North Carolina; his brother John Leary and his wife, Mary, of Holliston, MA; and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his sisters, Eileen Szulik and Anne Cooper.

The family would like to thank the staff at the Residence at Cedar Dell for the loving care Ed received while living there and to the doctors and nurses at St. Luke's ER and SICU for their compassionate care.

In accordance with his wishes, he will be cremated. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Monday January 27th at 10 AM at St. Francis of Assisi Church, New Bedford. Interment will follow in Riverside Cemetery, Fairhaven. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Salvation Army, 619 Purchase St., New Bedford, MA 02740. Arrangements are by Saunders Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.