Edward Joseph Toohey

icon 1 Photo

author on Oct 7, 2009

Edward Joseph Toohey of New York City and Southampton died on September 30 at his Southampton home. He was 79.

Born January 15, 1930, in Jersey City, New Jersey, he was a graduate of the Peddie School and Yale University. He served on active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps for three years, followed by 18 years in the Marine Corps Reserve, attaining the rank of major.

A board member of many organizations including the New York City Ballet, the Peddie School, the Windham Foundation, and Bunbury Company, he had a long and distinguished career at Merrill Lynch that spanned 45 years.

Mr. Toohey is a descendant of John Ogden who, at the age of 31, landed at Conscience Point in 1640 and with a group of colonists from Lynn, Massachusetts, founded Southampton. Mr. Ogden originally settled in Shinnecock Hills, but in 1650 founded and lived in North Sea with six other families, near where Mr. Toohey settled with his family. Survivors said this week that he will be deeply missed.

He is survived by his wife of more than 60 years, Phyllis Toohey, a daughter, Karen and her husband Jeff Hughes, and two grandchildren, Andrew and Alexandra Hughes, all of New York City and Southampton, an extended family and many friends.

A graveside service will be held on Thursday, October 8, at 11 a.m., at Southampton Cemetery, with the Reverend Peter Larsen officiating. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Brockett Funeral Home in Southampton.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Yale University, Office of Development, P.O. Box 2038, New Haven CT 06521 or the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, c/o National Museum of the Marine Corps, 3800 Fettler Drive, Dumfries, VA 22025 would be appreciated by the family.

You May Also Like:

Federal Immigration Sweep Shakes the East End | 27Speaks Podcast

 On Wednesday, November 5, ICE agents swept into Hampton Bays and Westhampton, setting upon ... 10 Nov 2025 by 27Speaks

A Great Success

On behalf of Little Lucy’s I would like to sincerely thank everyone who helped make Little Lucy’s 24th annual Halloween Pet Parade a great success. I’d especially like to thank Mayor Bill Manger for his continued support. Thank you to the Parks Department, for the use of the stage, and the Village Police Department, for always keeping everyone safe. Thank you to all the volunteers, the merchants, restaurants, vendors, contestants, for your time and generous donations. To all of you who helped Little Lucy’s raise animal awareness and much needed funds for the beneficiaries Suffolk County SPCA and Southampton Animal ... by Staff Writer

Hampton Bays Moment

As commander of Hand-Aldrich Post 924, I want to thank the community of Hampton Bays for their generosity in the November 8 Bucket Brigade. On that Saturday, our members set up a Bucket Brigade in front of our Legion Hall to raise funds for new flags to be placed on the utility poles along Montauk Highway and Ponquogue Avenue next spring. Your readers may have noticed that some of the flags currently gracing the utility poles have fallen into disrepair. We were able to raise enough to replace all the flags that are currently flying in Hampton Bays. This clearly ... by Staff Writer

Donate Food

Thank you for your editorial in the November 6 issues [“Stop the Hunger”], in which you urged all of us to contribute to our local food pantries now because of the suspension of federal SNAP benefits. Emphasizing that this is not a partisan issue, I made similar requests to local Democrats during the recent campaign, as well as more recently this last weekend. We can each find food pantries nearest us by going to the Town of Southampton website and putting “local food pantries 2025 v2” in the search box. To this list, please add Bay Street Theater, Sag Harbor. ... by Staff Writer

Heartfelt Thanks

On behalf of the Mariners Patriot Club, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped make our Veterans Dinner on Wednesday, October 29, such a meaningful and memorable evening. This special night was filled with gratitude, love and community spirit, as we came together to honor those who have served our country with courage and sacrifice. It was made possible by the incredible generosity and kindness of so many throughout our community. To our local restaurants, thank you for your generous food donations that warmed both our hearts and our tables. To our community members and businesses, ... by Staff Writer

Restore Voting Power

Jess McNerney’s Letter to the Editor [“Closer Look,” October 30] aptly pointed to the democratic process here in Southampton Village. Big-money contributions, secrecy of governmental activities, consolidation of power, and other trends have emerged, endangering the abilities of citizens to engage in the operations of the village. We could be reduced to mere observers of the operations of the village providing we were even allowed to be observers, given the attempts at governing in the shadows. Fortunately, we have been saved in many cases by the valiant efforts of local heroes who by themselves save us from the overreach of ... by Staff Writer

Dragnet

Recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in Hampton Bays and Westhampton Beach lay bare the irrational immigration policies of the Trump administration. I wrote this one and a half years ago: “In February 2017, The Southampton Press’s Michael Wright reported on local businessmen and their reasons for employing immigrant laborers; his article was titled “East End Employers Say Immigrant Workers Pay Taxes, Provide Foundation for Local Economy.” In that article, local tradespeople expressed the belief that the new Trump administration would be judicious in their approach to immigration, that the new administration would deport only bad guys. On July ... by Staff Writer

Tribal Politics

The tribe has spoken. Following the national trend, Southampton Town Democrats enjoyed some big wins in Tuesday’s election. Tom Neely earned a Town Council seat by defeating incumbent Rick Martel, and Democratic Party candidates won all five Trustees seats, ousting three incumbents. Indeed, big wins for local Democrats. Voters stayed loyal to their brand — but is Southampton Town better off today? Time will tell. I primarily voted for the incumbents in our local election, as I’ve never subscribed to the idea of change for the sake of change. Southampton Town will be losing a lot of experience when Rick ... by Staff Writer

Hospital To Host Talk With Parkinson's Doctor

Stony Brook Southampton Hospital’s Center for Parkinson’s Disease and Stony Brook University’s School of Health Professions will host an evening with Dr. Ray Dorsey, author of “The Parkinson’s Plan,” on Wednesday, December 3. Admission is free but registration for the limited seating is required. The lecture will be held at Duke Lecture Hall, Stony Brook Southampton Campus, 39 Tuckahoe Road in Southampton. Dr. Dorsey is an internationally renowned neurologist and leading Parkinson’s researcher. His book lays out the environmental drivers of Parkinson’s disease, the policy changes needed to shape the future of brain health, and why prevention must be part ... by Staff Writer

DAR Offering Scholarships to History Majors

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is offering a unique opportunity for students passionate about American history. In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the DAR America 250! Scholarship will award ten students with a one-time $25,000 scholarship in 2026. Undergraduate and graduate students majoring in American history at accredited colleges or universities are eligible to apply. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, maintain a minimum 3.5 GPA, and submit a one-page essay either on the founding of the nation or on their personal volunteer achievements for community and country. “We are so thrilled ... by Staff Writer