Remembering 'Big Ed' Shanaughy

Editor's Note: Ed Shanaughy lived with his wife, Angela, in Willistown for all 53 years of their marriage. They were fixtures at in Paoli until Ed's death earlier this year. Below, Angela remembers the life and accomplishments of her husband.

EDWARD PATRICK SHANAUGHY II—aka "Big Ed," "Fafa" and honorary mayor of Paoli—passed away at his home in Malvern on Jan. 27, 2012, surrounded by his wife of 53 years, Angela Shanaughy (nee DiVitis), his two sons, Edward Patrick III and Michael Damon Shanaughy, daughter-in-law, Elizabeth, and grandchildren and many friends.

Ed, a longtime resident of the Paoli/Malvern area, will not beforgotten. His Black Angus Bull stands proudly in front of his strip store located on Lancaster Avenue in Paoli. The bull has been the Paoli trademark for over 60 years. When it was stolen many, many years ago, he found his way home to Paoli.

Ed worked for Acme Markets for 19 years, after returning from the US Navy. He decided to go into business for himself. The property located at Lancaster Avenue was purchased and renovated to what it is today. Our Deli and Angus Meats is housed in two of the stores where Ed and his partner of 30-plus years, Robert Lennen have made the name "OUR DELI" known for what it is today. Not too many people from the Main Line are not familiar with the best deli around.  Children loved the lolly pops that Ed would hand out; to them he is known as the "Lolly Pop Man."

Before Ed opened the deli, the property was a meat establishment where Ed ran plants throughout the Eastern states. Since all the plants were doing so well, Ed was able to devote much of his time to the community, joining every organization he could. He felt since he was so blessed that he should give back, and that is exactly what he did.

He joined the Devon Bocce Club in Devon, which led him to become President of the Devon Strafford Lions Club, not for one year but for many more. He was voted Business Man of the Year in 1980 by the Paoli-Berwyn Business Association, where he become a Director of the Board. He was a Director of the Main Line Chamber of Commerce, Bryn Mawr Rehab, Flight, President of the Paoli Fire Company for 36 years, Director of Malvern Federal Savings Bank where he was nominated to co-chairman of Board of Directors and finally as director emeritus before his passing.

Angus Consulting Corporation was the holding company for all of Ed's ventures, which were many. Ed and his wife Angela started a bookkeeping service to  keep the records. They serviced The Berwyn Tavern, which was owned by Ed and his brother Jack Shanaughy, records for all the meat stores, Our Deli and Angus Meats, which is still in operation today.

In Ed's spare time he enjoyed playing golf and being with his friends.  At one time he belonged to Chester Valley Golf Club in Malvern, White Manor Country Club also in Malvern, Quail Ridge in Boca Raton, Fla., and at the time of his death, Aronimink Golf Club in St. Davids.

He was a member of St. Norbert's Roman Catholic Church located in Paoli, where in his earlier days he served as an usher and many other activities. He was a devoted member of St. Patrick's in Malvern and attended The Daylesford Abbey in Berwyn.

Ed knew everyone, and if he didn't know them then they would before he left their company. Ed never knew a person he did not like. He would shake hands with everyone who he came into contact with; his favorite saying in life was  "Hello lad" or "lassie," "buttercup" or "sweetheart." He'd shake hands with the men and kiss the women and say:

I'm Edward Patrick Shanaughy. You are looking great today.

Edward Patrick Shanaughy II was laid to rest on Feb. 4 with a Celebration of Mass at St. Norbert's Church and a burial at Calvery Cementary in Conshohocken.

An Irishman through and through, loved by all, a gentleman, a man of wisdom, courage, strength, compasion, generosity, love and vitality. The pouring of his love will be with us yesterday, today and tomorrow—missed but not forgotten.

—Angela Shanaughy