Obituary of Edward D. Cronnelly Jr.

Edward D. Cronnelly Jr., 90, of Syracuse, died Friday at home. The only child of Edward and Grace Cronnelly, he was born in Staten Island, NY. He was a parishioner of St. Michael – St. Peter Church on Onondaga Hill. Ed graduated from Blessed Sacrament School and St. Peter's Boys High School in Staten Island and enlisted in the U. S. Army Air Corps' Aviation Cadet Program in 1942. He received his navigator wings and commission in 1943. He was assigned to the 453rd Bomb Group of the 8th Air Force in England. He flew 35 bombing missions over Germany and was awarded the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters and the E.T.O. ribbon with two battle stars. Ed was a rabid fan of the University of Notre Dame since childhood. By coincidence, the plane in which he flew most of his missions was named "The Spirit of Notre Dame." Ed spent 25 years with the Shaw Walker Co. as a salesman, Branch Mgr. and Marketing Communications Mgr. of the Accounting Methods Division. He retired in 1982. Ed was a member of Livingston Post 1369 of the American Legion since 1949 and served one year as Post Commander. He was also a member of Council 12035 Rev. Edward J. Kissane of the Knights of Columbus. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, June 24, 2014 at 10:00am at St. Michael – St. Peter Church. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Dewitt. Contributions may be made to St. Michael- St. Peter Church, 4782 West Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse, N.Y. 13215.