Edward McNamara Obituary

In Loving Memory of Edward James McNamara
Edward James McNamara of Surf City, New Jersey, passed away peacefully on October 17th, 2025, surrounded by his family.
Born in Brooklyn, New York on March 27th, 1935 to Edward and Rose McNamara (née Callahan), Ed arrived early and weighed less than three pounds. He beat all expectations, growing to 6'4" and living to the age of 90.
He was raised in Brooklyn and attended Brooklyn Preparatory High School. After graduating, Edward attended Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn (now known as the New York University Tandon School of Engineering) where he studied civil engineering.
Along with surprising his doctors in childhood, Edward's height led him to the woman who would become his wife. At a friends' wedding, Edward, the best man, was paired with bridesmaid Joann Tomao because the bride thought the two tall people would look good in her pictures. Not only did they look great standing arm-in-arm, they got along wonderfully. After hitting it off at their friends' wedding, Edward and Joann married November 18, 1961 and were together for nearly 64 wonderful years.
After college, Edward was commissioned as a First Lieutenant in the Army. He began his civilian career as a licensed professional engineer at Underpinning and Foundation, a division of Skanska, Inc., and advanced to Vice President of the company. His work took him across the country, notably developing foundations for both the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) in San Francisco, California and the World Trade Center in New York City.
Upon returning to New York, Edward and Joann built a house in Greenlawn, NY, to raise their two daughters, Lynne and Christine. He created productive gardens, tussled with poaching squirrels, and taught his children how to build a meaningful life. Along with spending time with his family, Ed loved fishing and exploring on his boat, the Craft-E. He was known for making Ed's Famous Eggnog every Christmas and sharing it widely among family and friends.
Throughout their time together, Edward and Joann traveled extensively, often with his best friend and cousins Bruce and Lisa Schaefer and other close friends and family. Ed and Joann tracked their many journeys with pins on a map– they ran out of pins after 100, but didn't stop traveling.
Edward and Joann retired to their house in Surf City, on Long Beach Island, to enjoy time by the ocean. They often invited family and friends over for the daily cocktail hour, strolling from the porch to the beach on sunny evenings. Known as Pop-Pop to his six grandchildren, Ed was a calming, steady force in a lively, busy household. During "Cousins' Week," when all his grandkids would visit at once, Pop-Pop would welcome them back from the beach at midday with a spread of freshly-grilled hamburgers. Even his "grand-dogs" got to enjoy quiet moments with him by curling up at his feet while he watched the Giants. Ed loved sharing his hobbies and teaching his grandchildren: how to identify the stars and planets on clear summer nights, how to play Liar's Dice, how to grow world-class tomato plants, how to surfcast, and many more deeply treasured skills.
Edward leaves his cherished wife Joann, his daughters Lynne Tierney and her husband Terrence, Christine Bissell and her husband Thomas, as well as his six grandchildren and their spouses; Tyler and his wife Laurell, Caitlyn and her partner William, James and his fiancé Courtney, Maggie, Kevin, and Emily. He is survived by his sister-in-law Dolores Smith Dooley, and numerous nephews, nieces, close extended family and great friends. He was recently predeceased by his sister, Rosemary Orosch.
A wake will be held on Monday, October 20th, 2025 from 2 to 5 p.m. at Bugbee-Riggs Funeral Home, 1119 Long Beach Blvd., Ship Bottom, NJ 08008. A funeral mass will be held at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 21st, at St. Mary's of the Pines Church, 100 Bishop Ln, Manahawkin, NJ 08050. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Parish Cemetery, Beachview Ave, Manahawkin.
In memory of Edward, please consider a donation to the Southern Ocean Medical Center Auxiliary Boosters, Sarah Mueller, 10005 Beach Ave, Long Beach Island Township, NJ 08008.