Dr. Edward Graham Toomey, of Concord, beloved husband of Janet Tella Toomey, passed away peacefully on March 20, 2023, at the age of 88.
He was the son of the late Charles T. Toomey and Margaret Graham Toomey of Johnston, Rhode Island.
After attending La Salle Academy in Providence, Edward graduated from the University of Notre Dame and Georgetown Medical School.
After completing his medical internship at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Worcester, he joined the U.S. Air Force as a medical officer. He served his tour of duty in Pakistan from 1961 through 1962. In 1962 he made the acquaintance of a nun who would later become world famous: Mother Teresa. They became longtime correspondents, and he would ship medical supplies to her Missionaries of Charity in India for years.
When he returned to the United States, Edward completed his residency in internal medicine at Lahey Clinic in Boston and joined the staff at Emerson Hospital in Concord in 1966 where he practiced until 2015. Lovingly called “Saint Edward” by friends, patients and colleagues, Dr. Toomey showed limitless compassion for his patients and their families over his nearly 50 years in practice. He consistently made house calls, counseled family members on nights and weekends, and drove patients to appointments. He never refused to treat a patient even if they had no way to pay. A true humanitarian…
A man of deep faith, he attended services every morning at Holy Family Parish over many decades. He truly lived the values of Christianity every day of his life, always putting others first and remaining humble.
Edward was the recipient of many honors and awards throughout his career, including the University of Notre Dame Exemplar Award in 1997 for his commitment to service to church, society, and education; the Middlesex Central District Medical Society and the Massachusetts Medical Society Community Physician of the Year Award in 2001; and Emerson Hospital’s Terry Croteau Compassionate Care Award in 2006.
Edward is survived by his wife Janet, three daughters: Elisa C. Toomey of Concord, Cynthia Toomey King and Timothy King of Audubon, Pennsylvania, Deborah Toomey Wallace and Steven Wallace of Southborough, Massachusetts, and three grandchildren Claire Wallace, Sean Wallace, and Hailey Wallace and his brother Charles T. Toomey of Concord and Naples, Florida. He was predeceased by his sister Margaret R. Dolan and her late husband Robert F. Dolan of Concord and brother Thomas J. Toomey and his late wife Louise I. Toomey of Providence, Rhode Island.
Family and friends will gather a Funeral Mass on Saturday, March 25 at 10:30 am at St. Bernard’s Church in Holy Family Parish, 12 Monument Square, Concord Center. Burial with U.S. Air Force military honors follows at St. Bernard’s Cemetery, Concord.
Concord’s Town Flag will fly at half-staff on Saturday, March 25 in recognition of Dr. Toomey’s honorable military service to our country.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Medical Mission Sisters (www.medicalmissionsisters.org) or to Sacred Heart Southern Missions (www.shsm.org).
Arrangements are under the care of Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord. To share a remembrance or to offer a condolence in his online guestbook, please visit www.DeeFuneralHome.com.
