Edmund Vincent McCann, known by his loving family as “Pop”, was born on September 19, 1945, to John Francis McCann and Veronica Theresa (Suglia) McCann. The eldest of nine children, Pop grew up in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey before attending the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. Although he achieved great academic success at Holy Cross, he wished to be closer to his family and he transferred to Saint Peter’s College in Jersey City, New Jersey, graduating in 1967.
The year that Pop received his undergraduate degree, he met and married the love of his life, Carole Jean Naglieri, known to her loving family as “Mimi”. At this same time, he enrolled in law school at the Fordham University School of Law in New York City, New York. While attending law school, Pop became a sworn police officer with the Ridgefield Park Police Department, beginning a lifetime of selfless service to others. While in the process of achieving his law degree, his sons, Michael Robert McCann and Kevin Patrick McCann, were born. He was committed to being successful at everything he did in his life but his foremost commitment was to his family. Pop’s success in everything that he did could not have been achieved without the loving support of Mimi.
Pop eventually received his Juris Doctorate degree in 1971, the same year that he was admitted to the State Bar of New Jersey. Pop joined forces with his father and formed the law firm of McCann and McCann in Ridgefield Park. Their tenure of operating the family law firm together was short-lived as Pop’s father unfortunately passed away on September 11, 1973. Pop returned to work as a young solo lawyer teaching himself how to successfully practice law on his own. Mimi and Pop’s third son, Daniel Ryan McCann, was born at this point, and between raising his young family and running his law firm Pop’s plate was full.
Over the next ten years, Pop commuted from his family home in Upper Saddle River to his office in Ridgefield Park. Although helping others was his motivating factor, which consisted of numerous pro bono cases in which he did not charge indigent clients any fees, Pop achieved enough income and savings to purchase his and Mimi’s dream beach house in 1981 on Long Beach Island, New Jersey. This beach house was their happy place and where Pop was consistently able to relax and unwind, and he took great pleasure in spending his summers with his family at the beach. Pop also carved out enough personal time to coach his three sons in baseball, basketball, football, and soccer, and he never missed his children’s school events and sporting events.
In the mid-1980s, Pop grew very interested in sailing, and together with his longtime friend, Bob Cianci, Pop purchased and sailed a Beneteau racing sailboat, which they appropriately named the “Sea-Antsy”. The pair sailed together for many years winning regatta sailboat races in the New Jersey / New York / Connecticut tri-state area.
Beginning in the mid-1990s, Pop became the proud grandfather of nine grandchildren. Pop loved nothing more than spending time with his grandchildren, and he would always look forward to having his entire family at the beach house. Pop jumped at the opportunity to coach alongside his son for one of his grandchildren’s baseball teams, and he took every opportunity that he could to attend his grandchildren’s birthdays, sporting events, school events, graduations, and ceremonies.
Over the years, Pop and Mimi enjoyed their pet dogs. Pop’s favorite dog was his last dog, Maggie Mae “Maggie”, a bichon frise princess that he had originally purchased as a Christmas gift for Mimi, but soon became Pop’s baby. Pop walked Maggie every day, and as his body aged and prevented him from doing many of the things that he loved to do, the walks with Maggie kept him happy, active, and mobile. Maggie went to the office with Pop every day and slept on a bed under his desk.
Pop loved his community and was proud of where he was from. He was a product of Ridgefield Park and that was a community that he would always proudly serve. Pop was a proud patriotic American who believed feverishly in the American promise of working hard to achieve your dreams. Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, Pop donated over one hundred hardhats to the rescue workers at ground zero. Pop loved the Fourth of July, and every year he hosted the Ridgefield Park Independence Day parade from his office on Main Street. Pop loved and respected the military, first responders, and everyone else who served their country and community.
Pop’s family always knew that he would continue working for the entirety of his life. As his body grew old, his mind stayed sharp and he remained committed to his craft. Pop’s office exemplified who he was and how he grew and developed into such an amazing man. Maggie’s bed is still under his desk. All the American Chestnut wood fixtures from his childhood home remains installed at his office. He still has the high school pictures of his sons, wedding pictures of him and Mimi, and photographs of his favorite memories of each of his grandchildren; he was so proud of his whole family. His desk is still positioned under photos of his mother and father, both of whom would be so proud of the son they had raised and the man he had become. The desk itself littered with ongoing projects and legal articles that he had planned to read, as Pop never wanted to stop learning. He was committed to his work, his family, his friends, and his community, and these commitments would never cease during his lifetime. He gave his family, friends, clients, colleagues, and strangers everything he had, and it made him happy to do so. Everyone will continue to remember Pop as not only the patriarch of the McCann family, but also the patriarch of his community. The love Pop shared with others will never be forgotten and will continue to live on and be cherished forever.
Pop went home to the lord on September 11, 2023, the anniversary of heroism and a significant day of patriotism, as well as exactly fifty years to the day of his father’s passing. Pop was predeceased by his parents, John Francis McCann and Veronica Theresa (Suglia) McCann, and his brother, John McCann (Barbara). Pop is survived by his lovely wife, Carole Jean (Naglieri) McCann, and his three sons, Michael Robert McCann (Holly), Kevin Patrick McCann (Kimberly), and Daniel Ryan McCann (Diane). Pop is also survived by seven siblings, Patricia Schmid (Eugene), Eileen McCann, Michele Lopez (Henry), Michael McCann (the late Margery Cavanaugh ), Timothy McCann (Martha), Colleen McCann, and Brian McCann (Gail), as well as nine grandchildren, Kyle Festog, Danny McCann, Hailey McCann, Lauren Olmsted (Joe), Jack McCann, Joey McCann, Ellie McCann, Kaylin McCann, and Ryan McCann. Pop is also survived by many other loving and extended family, including notable family members, niece and stand-in daughter, Desiree D'Antonio (Michael), and stand-in grandchildren, Michael D’Antonio and Charlotte D’Antonio.
May you rest in eternal peace and comfort, Pop. We love you.
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