Obituary of Edward S. Goracy

Edward S. Goracy, 76, of Glastonbury, beloved husband of Mary Ellen (King) Goracy, died Saturday, March 10, 2018 at Hartford Hospital surrounded by his loving family.  Ed was born in Hartford, son of Sebastian and Helen (Osleger) Goracy, and grew up in the South End, a fact of which he was very proud.  His parents owned the Maple Café on Maple Avenue for many years.  Ed graduated from Bulkeley High School in 1959.  He attended Fairfield University and graduated from Georgetown Dental School in 1967.  He served in the Army from 1967 – 1969.  He then trained in Oral Surgery in the Bronx, New York.  He practiced Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in East Hartford for 35 years.  Ed was a man of many enthusiasms, all of which he participated in fully.  He played in a basketball league for years, and switched to tennis as he got older.  He played tennis 3 times a week before work.  He was an avid fisherman and hunter.  Many fall mornings would find him pheasant hunting in the Glastonbury Meadows with his beloved German Short Haired Pointer dogs.  He was a member and past president of the Glastonbury Sportsman’s Association.  He was also an avid fly fisherman, who passed his love of fishing down to his grandson.  All who knew him knew of his passion for the Redskins, a team he supported through good times and bad.  Above all, was his love of gardening.   He was inspired to create a beautiful haven in his backyard after a trip to England.  His perennial gardens encompassed a koi fish pond, a gazebo, and many interesting garden features.  He spent hours designing, planting and tending to his flowers.  His garden was featured on garden tours sponsored by the Garden Conservancy, the Manchester Garden Club, and Perennial Partners.  He was a member and past president of the Wethersfield Garden Club, and a member of the Manchester Garden Club.  Ed was, above all, a kind, generous and fun-loving man.  He had a great sense of humor and made everyone around him smile.  He loved his family more than anything in his life.  He planned many family vacations to Martha’s Vineyard, where he had a vacation home for years.  He had friends dating back to his childhood, high school, and college days, with whom he maintained close ties.  Ed underwent a double lung transplant in 2011 as a result of pulmonary disease.  He enjoyed 6 extra years of life thanks to a wonderful family that donated their loved one’s organs.  He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Mary Ellen, his daughter Christine Poscich, his son, John and wife Nadia Goracy, and his son Brian and wife Beatriz Goracy.  He has 5 grandchildren, Nicholas Poscich, Camille Poscich, Jason Goracy, Sebastian Goracy and Monica Goracy.  He is also survived by 3 siblings, Joanne Brannan, Elaine Lukas, and Leonard Goracy, as well as many nieces and nephews.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, March 17, 2018 at 10:00 am in St. Paul Church, 2577 Main Street, Glastonbury.  Everyone should meet at church.  Friends and family may call at Mulryan Funeral Home, 725 Hebron Avenue, Glastonbury on Friday, March 16 from 4 to 7 pm.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association at P.O. Box 15829, Arlington, VA  22215.