Obituary Listings

Collins, Edward E. 12/28/29 – 4/24/21

Ed was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago in the Beverly neighborhood, where he met the love of his life, Marilyn, in 1951. They married in 1952 and had six children, who in turn gave them ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Ed had a great love for and pride in all of them. Also in 1952, he began work in the Theatrical Stage Employees Union (IATSE) Local 2. One of his first jobs was at NBC-TV Chicago, which blossomed into a 50 year career until his retirement in 2001. From the early days of live television through Kukla, Fran & Ollie up to covering Chicago Bulls championship rallies, Ed was part of it all. In 2019 Ed received the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Chicago Silver Circle Award, which recognizes significant contributions to local television. Ed was one of only two stagehands ever to be so honored. Ed was the epitome of “tough but fair”. He could be serious and no-nonsense, but could always be counted on for a smile, a kind word and a firm handshake. Family and friends will remember his sharp sense of humor, his love of puns and the colorful words and phrases that peppered his speech, lovingly referred to by his children as “Ed-isms”. In retirement, Ed and Marilyn divided their time between Naples, Florida and the Chicagoland area, to be with family for special occasions and holidays, especially St. Patrick’s Day, given Ed’s pride in his Irish heritage. Ed and his grandchildren were fixtures on the WMAQ-TV St. Patrick’s Day Parade float for many years. Ed is survived by his wife of 69 years, Marilyn; children Theresa (Robert) Kierny, Edward (Lisa) Collins, Michael (the late Marcia) Collins, Kathleen (Craig Kubinski) Collins and Joseph (Andrea) Collins; grandchildren Michael (Michelle Yu) Kierny, Tricia Kierny, Edward Collins, John Collins, Ava Collins, Kelly (Abraham) Soto, Michelle Collins, Kevin Collins, Sean Collins and Sara Collins; and great-grandchildren Samantha, Theo, Liam and Josie. He was preceded in death by his son John, in infancy, in 1963.

Services and interment private.

Please leave a memory for the family on Edward’s Tribute Wall; your stories will bring comfort to his family.

www.sheehyfh.com 708-857-7878