Edward Moroney, Teacher from UFT
* Retired teacher
“In all his endeavors, my dad was an educator,” Emily Moroney said of her father, per-diem teacher Edward Moroney. “Be it as a teacher in New York City public schools or from the pulpit as a pastor/missionary or teaching his daughters that education is the most important instrument of hope for ourselves and for others.”
Ed, 72, died on April 19.
He taught English as a Second Language at Norman Thomas HS in Manhattan from 2005-2010. The school closed in 2014. After his retirement in 2011, Ed traveled, then returned to work per diem at PS 452, also in Manhattan, from 2017 until the pandemic forced schools to close.
“Ed was a dependable teacher who made sure all our classrooms ran smoothly in our absence,” said PS 452 Chapter Leader Margaret O’Reilly. “He loved singing to the students when he came into their classrooms and was always a warm and friendly presence.”
Edward MoroneyEmily Moroney said her father believed that, as an educator, he was called to support his students in and out of the classroom. “He would share stories of attending concerts, science fairs, sporting events and graduations — at times being the only familiar face or advocate who showed up for a student.”
Ed was the first in his family to attend and graduate from college. He earned a bachelor’s degree in religion from Nyack College; a master’s in secondary education/social studies from Columbia University; a master’s in professional ministry from the Alliance Theological Seminary; and two master’s, in sociology and in English as a second language, from the University of Cincinnati. He also earned a diploma in Mandarin Chinese from the Taiwan Language Institute.
Edward Moroney“Ed was a wonderful, loving man who will be missed by anyone who came in contact with him,” said his nephew, Kenneth Moroney, also an educator and a former UFT member. “He especially loved his family, the arts and acting.”
Before becoming a teacher, Ed worked for the U.S. Postal Service and as a missionary in Taiwan, where he volunteered to help Chinese scholars with their ESL education. He acted in plays, movies, documentaries and shorts, as well as commercials, all while teaching in public schools.
Ed earned his SAG and Actor’s Equity memberships, and his LinkedIn page sums up his values: “A union guy – SAG/AFTRA, APWU, UFT, AEA.”
His daughter said Ed “never saw anyone as a stranger, and he taught others what true, radical Christian hospitality is, sacrificing for friends and family.”
In addition to his daughter Emily, Ed is survived by another daughter, MaryCatherine; his former wife, Kathleen; his brothers, Thomas, David and Dennis; his sister, Maureen Davis; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews; and six fur-grandbabies.