Edward J. Maroney Jr., 60, died on May 26, 2021. Born in Chicago, he grew up in Oak Park and lived in Forest Park. He attended St. Giles Elementary and Oak Park and River Forest High School. He received a B.S. degree in Communications-Radio/TV/Film from Northern Illinois University and his MEd from Dominican University.
Upon graduating from NIU, he began a career in Chicago advertising, editing television commercials for Editor’s Choice and Swell Pictures. He spent many years not only establishing an impressive portfolio, but also building long-lasting friendships with his colleagues.
At the age of 45, he decided to pursue his unrealized dream of becoming a teacher. For the past 13 years, he taught math and language arts at St. Procopius Catholic School and Forest Park Middle School. He never lost his love of editing, and while at Forest Park Middle School, it was not uncommon for the students and teachers to see him in their classrooms and hallways with a video camera, collecting footage for a unique film that he would edit and present to each eighth-grade graduating class.
In addition to film and education, he took every opportunity he could to enjoy the game of golf. He and his wife April were members of the Riverside Golf Club, where when he wasn’t on the course swinging a club, he could be seen on the patio enjoying a cocktail with one of his many golf buddies.
Of the many gifts he gave to those who loved him, perhaps the most poignant was his example of strength, courage and unwavering grit that saw him through 43 years of illness and suffering, with little complaint or concession.
Ed Maroney was preceded in death by his parents, Edward J. Maroney Sr. and Margaret (nee Freiman) Maroney. He is survived by April his wife of 28 years (nee Paul) and their adorable dog and steadfast companion, Max; his 10 siblings, Mark, Susan, William, Kathleen (Gary) Lorenz, Patricia, Margaret (Thomas) Wilkinson, Elizabeth (Timothy) Carey, Mary (James) Houser, Judith (William) Jordan and Colleen (A. Marc) Gilardi; 18 nieces and nephews, one great-niece, a brother-in-law Rodney (David) Paul-Jones, and his childhood best friends, Ted Hans and Rich Trofimuk.
While the family uses this time to remember Ed privately, a Celebration of Life event will be planned for a later date. Donations in Ed’s memory can be made to the Greater Chicago Food Depository at Chicagosfoodbank.org/maroneymemorial.
