Mr. Edward Ed James Gannon

Born August 6, 1931 to George and Mabel Gannon in Pittsburgh PA. After graduating from Slippery Rock University in 1953, he entered the U.S. Navy OCS and spent 4 years on active duty in Norfolk VA and New York City where he was Press Officer of the 3rd Naval District.

His first civilian job was in the Public Relations Department of the Chase Manhattan Bank. Later he joined the American Bankers Association as chief speechwriter for the ABA presidents. In 1969, he moved to Washington D.C. as a political appointee in the U.S. Treasury Department where he was executive assistant to the Deputy Secretary of the Treasury. In 1973 Secretary George Schulz presented Ed with the Treasury Department Exceptional Service Award citing the work he had done on the Guaranteed Student Loan Program and establishing Sallie Mae (Student Loan Marketing Association). Following his years at the U.S. Treasury he become co-founder and executive vice president of Charls E. Walker Associates from which he retired in 1988.

An avid golfer, Ed was a member of the Sea Palms Resort and Golf Club on St. Simons Island and Congressional Country Club in Bethesda Maryland. He was active in Republican Politics in Montgomery County Maryland for many years and ran for County Executive in 1986. He was also the driving force behind the construction of Aquatic Centers in Montgomery County. Ed’s favorite home away from home was Capon Springs, West Virginia, where he and Sue spent many happy hours with their family.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Susan Gannon, two daughters, Stacey Apfelbaum (Burt) of Menands NY, and Gretchen Paulsen (Marshall) of Richmond Vermont, and one son, David Gannon (Trish) of Oakland NJ. A daughter, Stephanie Gannon, predeceases him. He has nine grandchildren: Meghan, Katie and Meredith Apfelbaum; Benjamin, Tyler and Claire Paulsen; and Fiona, Donal, and Aideen Gannon. Ed is also survived by brothers Bob Gannon (Nancy) and Don Gannon (Cheryl), sisters Pat Voye (Jim, deceased), Mary Stewart (Ed), Joanne Pera (Gene, deceased), and sister-in-law Carol Gannon. He is pre-deceased by brothers Bill Gannon and George (Olga, deceased) and sister, Kathleen Karbowski (Peter).

Services will be held at St. Williams Catholic Church on Frederica Rd., St. Simons Island on Saturday, August 28, 2010 at 10 a.m. Family and friends are invited to call on Friday evening from 6-8 p.m. at the church.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests a contribution to the Stephanie Gannon Memorial Scholarship Fund in care of St. Bartholomew Church, 7212 Blacklock Rd. Bethesda Maryland or Hospice of the Golden Isles, 1692 Glynco Parkway, Brunswick, GA 31525.