“It’s a boy!” a first born son.  On the day that child was welcomed into the world, celebrations were held around the globe and around the clock. There were fireworks and bells chimed in every church and cathedral; there were gala parties where champagne corks popped and orchestras played; and casual gatherings of family and friends who toasted, sang and cheered.  Children took to the streets using trash can lids as cymbals or pots and spoons as drums, shouting and banging them in jubilation.

The baby was not born in a palace to royalty or to the lineage of an ancient dynasty, nor in an estate or manor house to the riches of corporate wealth, but in a New York City hospital to recent Irish immigrants.  It was December 31^st, 1937, New Year’s Eve. His birth date was a harbinger of his life: something ending but looking forward with hope and joy for what was to come.

He may have been born into modest means, but his family name was a noble one–O’Connell–whose genealogy can be traced back to the High King of Ireland in 180 B.C.  The family’s early seeds were planted in County Clare and County Kerry but have spread throughout Ireland and to other countries as well.  Count Daniel O’Connell, born in August, 1743, the youngest of 22 children by one marriage, served with honor in the Seven Years War in Germany and distinguished himself at the siege and capture of Port Mahon from the British in 1779.  He was the last colonel of the Irish brigade.

Perhaps the most famous ancestor was Daniel O’Connell, 1775 – 1847, a major Irish political leader known as “The Liberator,” who spearheaded the campaign for Catholic emancipation in Ireland in 1829. In tribute to his memory, a monument was erected in Dublin on the south side of the city’s main street that also bears his name. It consists of three bronze sections separated by a granite plinth or pedestal. Of course, in pride of place at the top is the man himself, but at the base of the statue are four-winged victories, each representing a virtue attributed to O’Connell: courage, fidelity, patriotism, and eloquence.

The family coat of arms depicts a stag signifying peace and harmony and the shamrock, signifying perpetuity; the colors white or silver denote peace and sincerity; and the green is for hope, joy and loyalty in love.

At baptism, he was given the name Edward. meaning “rich guard,” derived from the Old English elements ead “wealth, fortune” and weard “guardian or keeper.” * It was the name of several Anglo-Saxon kings, the last being Saint Edward the Confessor who reigned shortly before the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, and known as a just ruler. Because of his popularity the name remained in use after the conquest when most other Old English names were replaced by Norman ones. The 13th-century Plantagenet king Henry III named his son and successor after the saint, and seven subsequent kings of England were also named Edward.  It is one of the few Old English names to be used throughout Europe (in various spellings).  It was also used by author Charlotte Brontë for the character Edward Rochester, the main love interest of the title character in her novel ‘Jane Eyre’ (1847).

He was called Eddie by his family and known as Ed in his adult years.  The suffix “ed” denotes something that is complete, at an end, done; but those two letters are also the first and last of a motto denoting an attitude of faith, courage and perseverance. Ever onwarD.

Fortified with the rich inheritance of Catholic faith, Irish identity and the virtues and values passed down through generations, Edward O’Connell set out to meet the challenges of life.

• He spent his entire career in banking.