Fallen Boston Fire Lt. Edward Walsh's body is carried to the funeral on top of the fire engine on which he worked.
Watertown-native and Boston Fire Lt. Edward Walsh was remembered Wednesday as a kind, caring man who was devoted to both of his families – his wife, kids and mother, as well as the Boston Fire Department.
Walsh died in a fire in the Back Bay on March 26 along with firefighter Michael Kennedy, and on Wednesday his funeral was held in the church in which he was baptized 43 years ago – St. Patrick’s Church.
Firefighting runs in the Walsh family, said Watertown Fire Chief Mario Orangio. His father, Ed Sr., was on the Watertown Fire Department, along with two of Walsh’s uncles. Walsh’s cousin and brother-in-law also served on the Wartertown Department. Other cousins work for fire departments in Braintree, Worcester and at Camp Pendleton in California.
He started in finance, but moved to firefighter after several years. He lived in West Roxbury with his wife Kristen, his sons Dillon and Griffin and his daughter Morgan. He coached Dillon and Morgan’s sports teams and also found time to volunteer for the Brian McNeil Memorial Foundation, the Lt. Paul J. Sullivan Scholarship Fund and Franciscan Children’s Hospital.
His sister Kathy Malone said he was big in stature, but a kind man.
“He was designated to do great things and he did,” she said during the funeral.
A wreath hangs on the front of Boston Ladder 15, housed in the station where Edward Walsh worked.
Some of the thousands of firefighters who paid respects to Lt. Michael Walsh outside St. Patrick's Church in Watertown.
Charlie Breitrose
Hundreds of firefighter bagpipers and drummers led the procession through Watertown Square for Lt. Edward Walsh’s funeral.
Lt. Edward Walsh's fire gear hangs off Boston Engine 33, which is carrying his coffin to the funeral.
Lt. Edward Walsh's coffin is lowered off of the fire engine for the funeral at St. Patrick's Church
Firefighters salute Lt. Edward Walsh in a final farewell at his funeral.