He was born in Boston on March 5, 1925, a son of John P. and Susan (Doherty) Guilfoy. Growing up in a large Irish Catholic family, he had 13 siblings, and was the youngest son. His Catholic faith was most important to him. Even while aboard a battleship in WWII, he never missed Mass.
As a WWII veteran, he proudly served on the USS Iowa. He shared a few stories of his time on the battleship, including when a torpedo narrowly missed the ship with President Roosevelt on board.
On March 26, 1949, he married Phyllis M. Brown in Dorchester, Massachusetts. They lived in several towns in Massachusetts and then in East Andover, New Hampshire, for 20 years. While in East Andover, he was a rural route carrier for the post office.
Edward and Phyllis moved to Maine in 1990. Edward enjoyed cycling, cross-country skiing, and traveling with his wife of 54 years.
He was a big fan of his children and grandchildren. He watched taekwondo practices, swim lessons and many events. He loved having tea parties with his granddaughter and watching his grandson race around the house on the wooden kiddy car that he made. As a skilled furniture maker, he made several toys and pieces of furniture for the family. He also took his daughter and grandchildren on several hikes in the White Mountains. One of his last hikes was up Mt. Washington at the age of 74.
All who knew him will cherish memories of his humor and wit. He was a positive man who could see the humor in most situations.
Edward was preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis Guilfoy, and a son, Richard Guilfoy.
He is survived by: a son, Michael Guilfoy of Concord, New Hampshire; a daughter, Nancy Clark and her husband Russell of Sanford; a grandson, Thomas Clark and his wife Christina of Wells; a granddaughter, Elaine Clark of Sanford; and a sister, Florence Collins of Weymouth, Massachusetts.
A special thank you goes to the staff at Huntington Common for his wonderful care and attention.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 31, at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish, Holy Family Church. Burial with military honors will follow at Oakdale Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of Lafrance-Lambert & Black Funeral Home, 29 Winter St., Sanford. Condolences may be expressed at blackfuneralhomes.com.
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