November 20, 1942 - October 29, 2018
Edward J. McGrath Jr., 75, of Mt. Laurel was peacefully called home to God on the morning of October 29, 2018, surrounded by his beloved family.
Son of the late Edward J., and Adele Faye McGrath, Edward was born in Trenton and grew up in the Broad Street Park section of Hamilton where he attended Holy Angels grammar school and graduated from Trenton Catholic Boy’s High School. After furthering his education attending Trenton Jr. and Rider Colleges he also served 6 years in the Army/Army Reserves and eventually took over the family business, E.J. McGrath Trucking, Inc., after his fathers’ passing. Ed also sold commercial real estate and retired from Barrett Paving Co., Inc.
At a young age Ed stood out as an exceptional athlete. He went on and played soccer, basketball and baseball for Trenton Catholic and baseball for the American Legion but was never too busy to turn down neighborhood pick-up game. Sports had always played a major role in Ed’s life however, having his 2 children, coupled with his competitive nature, is what eventually led him to the world of coaching where he truly found his niche.
Ed coached his son Peter, and dozens of other kids, on many competitive travel soccer teams for 10+ years in addition to his 10+ years of coaching at the Hamilton Babe Ruth league and a few small stints at the Hamilton Little Lads Baseball League and Hamilton PAL T-Ball and Basketball leagues and still managed to attend all of daughter’s games, although some games he had to watch from outside the field.
Ed was a loving and supportive husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. In his earlier days he loved skiing and to snow-mobile and was always adventurous. He enjoyed the outdoors and could often be found out back tinkering with a lawnmower, chain-saw, weed-whacker, etc… and took great pride in the yard. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed making custom golf clubs for himself and others. He loved to travel with his lovely bride Anne along with their loyal golden retriever “Cooper.” He was not shy about his natural ability to play the piano, banjo and guitar all by ear and blessed with the “Gift of Gab”, Ed was clever and quit-witted and had a wonderfully dry sense of humor and infectious laugh. He was always a gentleman and his kind eyes and gentle smile would instantly warm your soul.
Pre-deceased by his loving son Peter E. McGrath, and his sister Catherine D. (McGrath) McHale, Edward is survived by his beautiful and loving wife of 27 years Anne J. (Baeringer) McGrath; daughter Amy L. McGrath and Rick Warren; Anne’s children Brian Borda, wife Gretchen and grand-children Kyle and his wife Morgan, Joel, Brian Jr., and Poppy; Christine Borda; Katherine (Borda) Graham, husband Joseph and their children Ryan and Mollie. Brother-in-law Thomas J. McHale; Brother in-law Charles Baeringer and wife Elizabeth; Sister-in-law Evelyn “Emmy” Kutteroff; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends may attend a viewing on Thursday evening, November 8, 2018 from 6 p.m. to 8p.m. at the Buklad Memorial Home, 2141 South Broad Street in Hamilton. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, November 9, 2018, 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, 42 West Main Avenue, Moorestown, NJ 08057. There will be no services held at the memorial home on Friday. Burial will follow in Bordentown Cemetery, 210 Crosswicks Road, Bordentown, NJ 08505.
Relatives and friends may pay their condolences online at www.BukladMemorialHomes.com In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to The Hospice of Moorestown VNA www.moorestownvna.org/donate
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