Edward Sheeran, 72, Was Veteran of Korean War

Edward Nathaniel Sheeran of Edgartown died unexpectedly Monday, Nov. 10, at his home on Chappaquiddick.

Mr. Sheeran was born on Feb. 5, 1931 in Medford, one of six children born to James and Amelia (Veraka) Sheeran. He was formerly married to Diane (Caliri) Hallock.

He lived in Medford most of his life and also resided in Waltham, Sudbury and Roslindale. He has been a permanent resident of Martha's Vineyard since 1995.

He was a mechanic for Polaroid in Waltham for almost 30 years and retired in 1987. He also worked for the B&M Railroad for 10 years previously as a machinist and mechanic.

Mr. Sheeran was a Korean War veteran, serving in the Coast Guard and honorably discharged with the rank of BM third class.

He was a parishioner of St. Elizabeth's Church in Edgartown.

He enjoyed fishing, playing the organ, golfing and cooking. He volunteered with the Edgartown Senior Center and The Trustees of Reservations.

He is survived by two sons, Gerard E. Sheeran of Plymouth and Leonard A. Sheeran and his wife, Aimee, of Wilmington, N.C.; a granddaughter, Emma N. Sheeran of Wilmington, N.C.; two brothers, James Sheeran of Hawaii and Michael and his wife, Marilyn, of Belmont; three sisters, Patricia Coffey and her husband, John, of Forestdale, Theresa Desmond and her husband, Edward, of Waltham and Barbara Venditti and her husband, Richard, of Pine Hurst, N.C., and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister, Mary Ann Sheeran Shannon.

His funeral mass will be celebrated in St. Patrick's Church in Falmouth at 10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 14. Interment will follow at the National Cemetery in Bourne. Visiting hours were on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2003 at the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home in Falmouth from 4 to 7 p.m. Donations may be made in his memory to the Edgartown Council on Aging, Edgartown, MA 02539.