Known to nearly everyone as “Duffy” Edward Connolly Schoeler II passed away peacefully in his home, surrounded by loved ones on Whidbey Island Washington, October 29th, 2025, at age 98. He is survived by his sister Geraldine, son Edward, wife Mary Beth, multiple grandchildren and great grandchildren. Duffy was preceded in death by his first wife Rosemary, daughter Susan, and sons Robert and Frank. Duffy grew up in Jamaica Queens New York, and lived on Long Island until moving to California in 1967. He was the second child of Edward and Hildegarde Schoeler and had six siblings, Patricia, Joan, Jane, George, Geraldine and Bernadette, who died as an infant.

As a young man, Duffy liked to tinker with crystal radios and electrical gadgets. He once used a Ford Model T buzz­box Ignition coil to power a lamp on his bicycle which he had painted his name on so everyone in Queens Village knew of his approach. Duffy liked to recount a story of his father winning a pipe wrench and hammer in a raffle, which his father decided to use to tighten the water pipes in the basement, resulting in multiple broken pipes. Duffy then at a young age had to learn to be a pipe fitter and repair the damage. The wrench and hammer were taken away and now reside in his son Edward’s toolbox as cherished mementos. As a teen Duffy worked at his uncle’s garage rebuilding engines, doing brake jobs and oil changes, and pumping gas. In high school he trained as an aircraft mechanic and he met his future wife, Rosemary. During the Second World War Duffy was drafted into the Army before, deciding the Army wasn’t for him and enlisting in the Navy. While he was in Navy booy camp, Army authorities came looking for Duffy and his mother had to explain where he was.

When Duffy reported to his first duty station at NAS Patuxent River, he ran into a female lieutenant who remembered him and his mechanical “skills” from his job at the garage. The lieutenant quickly recognized that Duffy’s gregariousness and curiosity would better serve the war effort and the needs of the Navy by reassigning him to the communications center rather than on the flight line repairing aircraft. Duffy then became a teletype repairman and excelled at it so much that when his enlistment ended the Navy offered to send him to Officer Candidate School. Duffy declined and instead began his career at New York Telephone Company where he worked for twenty years before transferring to Pacific Telephone in California. After his retirement, Duffy and Rosemary moved to Whidbey Island. After Rosemary passed, Duffy met Marybeth while serving on the Board of Directors for Scatchet Head, fell in love and remarried.

Duffy channeled his enthusiasm, wit, and curiosity into public service. He was a volunteer fireman, along with his son Robert, a charter member and Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus, and was elected for several terms as Clinton water District Commissioner. Duffy was also very active in his church and community with Hearts and Hammers and as a lector for Sunday masses. He had an expansive circle of friends and was an excellent cook and expert bowler, once bowling a perfect score. But what Duffy truly loved most was spending time on the water and he could often be found walking the beaches of his beloved Whidbey Island, or surfcasting for salmon with his friends or grandson whenever he could.

His kindness, boundless generosity, wicked humor, avid storytelling, and untampered willingness to lend a hand wherever needed will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

His funeral will take place on November 15th at 11 am at St Hubert’s Catholic Church in Langley, Washington; with a Rosary taking place at 4:30 on November 14th. Those unable to attend in person can attend via live stream on the church’s Facebook page. In memory of Duffy’s favorite color being red, we encourage those attending to wear red. In lieu of flowers, the family asks to honor Duffy and his charitable nature by donating to your favorite local charitable organization or organizations that have focuses on feeding the community or supporting animal rescue.