Photo collection of Peggie Goehle Edgar

Birth:

August 13, 1904, in Long Branch, New Jersey according to his death certificate. I did not find his baptismal record in either New York City or in New Jersey. Since he was baptized in West End, New Jersey his birth most likely also occurred in New Jersey. The birth probably occurred at home and was not reported.

Baptism: Charles Walsh, born in unknown, August 13, 1904, child of Joseph Walsh and Maggie Langan, was baptized in St Michael's' Roman Catholic Church, 800 Ocean Avenue, West End, New Jersey, by the Rev. Edward Cahill, on August 21, 1904, sponsors, Michael Walsh and Ellen Walsh.

Information obtained from St Michael's by Mary Walsh Herdman and forwarded by Michael McEneney, January 2003.

Charles Walsh graduated for Regis High School in 1921.

Charles played minor league baseball in Salem and Lawrence, Massachusetts. He once pitched a doubleheader and won both games giving up only one run. In 1927 he was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He stayed with the Pirates until 1932 when he joined the New York City Fire Department.

From an undated newspaper article:

"Walsh has been in professional baseball for only two years, and has brilliant prospects. In 1925 he was with the Watsons in the Bronx, and also pitched for the Seventh Regiment. He was signed by Salem of the New England League and made a splendid record with that team in 1926.

In 1927 he was transferred to Lawrence, and despite poor support attracted sufficient attention to warrant his being drafted by the Pirates"

Charles Walsh was a member of the New York City Fire Department for 30 years. He served for 10 years as the Company officer in Harlem and 14 years as Deputy Chief. He taught fire administration at Queens College, Rutgers University and the Fire College of the New York Fire Department.

Charles wrote several books on firefighting including, Firefighting Strategy and Leadership in 1963, Modern Guidelines for Fire Control in 1970 and The Fire Problem and Its Solution (Second Edition) published in 1992 at age 88.

He was awarded the George W Steele Award for Literary Achievements in Fire Science and Education given by the New Jersey State Fireman's Mutual Benevolent Association on October 15, 1976.

Charles Walsh married Catherine Foley of Cambridge, Massachusetts on July 5, 1930 at St. Peter's Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

For the genealogy of Catherine Foley's family see below.

1. Mary born April 5, 1931
   Marriage: Clifford Herdman (Civil Engineer), November 27, 1954
   Children:
   1. Christopher Charles born September 3, 1957. Researcher in Microbiology and served in a Medical Unit of the U.S.Air force Reserves during Desert Storm
   2. Mary Elizabeth born October 15, 1958
      Death: October 25, 1958. died following surgery for a tracheoesophageal. Was exposure to German Measles during first trimester
   3. Elizabeth Ann born october 19, 1959. Artist and Educator.
      Marriage: Karl Macko, Carpenter, lives in NC and has 3 daughters, Sasha Ann and twins, Hali Marie and Ayla Christine.
   4. Louise Marie born November 16, 1960. Public Relations Administrator
      Marriage: Christopher Danford, Environmental Engineer, who has two sons, Benjamin and Timothy. Louise and Chris have 2 daughters, Kelsa Haskell and Leah Walsh, live in NH.
   5. Paul Anthony born December 30, 1962. PhD Harvard-Education
      Marriage: Dana Balick, MA Educator, have 2 daughters, Emma Jehlem and Olivia Cate
2. Margaret born March 29, 1932
   Death: Margaret Walsh, born March 29, 1932 NYC, age 2 years, 2 months and 3 days, died June 1, 1934 of Tubercular Meningitis, father, Charles Walsh born in New Jersey, mother, Catherine Foley born in Mass., family address, 3239 Johnson Avenue, Bronx buried at Gate of Heaven Cemetery June 4, 1934(in the same grave that would later contain Catherine and Charles Walsh). (Bronx DC #5082, 1934)
3. Catherine (Cathie) born March 17, 1933, Homemaker
   Marriage: Michael F McEneney, Attorney, had 4 children
Children:
1. Michael born March 13, 1958, Attorney, married Victoria Albornoz, Attorney, from Miami, FL, have 2 children, Michael F McEneney IV, and Alexandra Victoria.
2. Catherine born March 24, 1959, RN Head Nurch Premature Intensive Care, married John Chan, M.D. from the Philippines, has 4 children, Matthew Timothy, Christopher, Catherine Elizabeth, and John Michael.
3. Teresa Ann born April 6, 1960, Homemaker, married Charles Johnson, Engineer, have 4 children, Lauren, Gregory, Charles, and Veronica.
4. Clare Madeline, born June 24, 1962, Med Transcriber, married Michael Hermann, conductor Metro North, have one daughter, Victoria Elizabeth.
4. Elizabeth (Lib) born April 24, 1934, Admin. Asst. Nicholas J. Garofalo, Purchasing Agent, July 9, 1966, had 3 children lived in Fairfield, NJ.
   Children
   1. Nicholas born August 12, 1967, MBA, married Jackie Leonard, admin Asst., daughter of Tom and Marie Leonard, have three children: Samantha, Morgan and Nicholas, Jr.
   2. Charles born May 7, 1970, Wholesaler
   3. Maria born January 14, 1967, Admin. Asst., married Robert Mancino, Mgr. Buld. Maintenance, son of Jerry and Lucille mancino, have a son, Shane.
   Death: May 30, 1998. Lung cancer.
5. Agnes born July 9, 1935, Secretary and Homemaker
   Marriage: John G. Riva, Acct. on May 9, 1959
   Children:
   1. John Douglas Riva born October 30, 1962, Financial Advisor, married Nancy Caulfield, MBA from Holland, have four children: Jennifer and triplets, Brent, Kaitlyn and John.
   2. Andrew born June 9, 1964, Stillborn
   3. Mary Catherine born January 16, 1966, PhD in Ed.
   4. Robert born October 6, 1967, BS, Police Officer and Landscaper, married Dianna O'Grady from Holmdel NJ, Admin. Asst. and homemaker, have 3 sons, Matthew, Michael and Christopher
6. Clare born June 29, 1936, RN, MS
   Marriage: Josef C. Esser, Pres. Verona Aluminum Co. September 17, 1966.
   Children:
   1. Lauren born November 12, 1967, MS, Librarian, Harvard University
   2. Monica born February 2, 1969, MA, director International Students, Marymount/Fordham, married Eric Katz, MS, Teacher, from Hartsdale, NY, the son of Myron and Rina Katz, on July 15, 2000, have a daughter, Zoe
   3. Christine born June 23, 1970
      Death: Died on March 10, 1974 of viral posterior myelitis (vitis settled in respiratory center)
   4. Kelly born July 8, 1973, Special Education Teacher, married Massimo P Vasile, MBA, of Sicily, Italy, son of Rita and Sebastian Vasile, have three children, Maximillian, Mark and Victoria.
   5. Beryl born November 14, 1975, MSW, married John Aubrey Stoker, Immigrations Case Worker, from Chicago and NYC, son of Michael and Clarann Stocker on August 29, 1998, have a daughter, Isabel and a son, Jack.

Death of Katherine Foley Walsh: 1990

Death of Charles Walsh: 1998

Genealogy of Catherine Foley

James Foley born February 1, 1826, Glenrure Parish, County Limerick, Ireland
Marriage: James Foley married Catherine E. Madden (born June 1, 1829 in county Tipperary, Ireland) on October 15, 1850 in Roxbury, MA.
Children:

1. Catherine born November 27, 1852
   Marriage: September 22, 1872
   Death March 30, 1874
2. Mary born April 5, 1854
3. Elizabeth born October 15, 1855
   Death: September 17, 1859
4. Daniel born February 29, 1857
   Death died August 6, 1859
5. Joanna T born September 11, 1858
   Death: Died May 24, 1887
6. Richard L. born January 21, 1860
   Death: Died January 9, 1887
7. Michael Joseph born May 10, 1863
   Death: Died April 14, 1879
8. Cornelius born April 27, 1865
   Marriage: Cornelius Foley married Mary Elizabeth Flynn on January 1, 1891. Mary Elizabeth Flynn was the daughter of John Flynn and Mary Veronica Mulcaire.
   Children:
   1. James J. born October 12, 1891
      Marriage James Foley married Mary Gunning on April 23, 1918. They lived in Marlboro, MA.
      Children:
      1. James born September 25, 1920, State Trooper, married Eleanor Hastings on June 25, 1947, had 6 children, four females and two males
      2. Maureen born July 27, 1922, married Jim Hutch on October 20, 1945, had four children, three females and one male
         Death of Maureen Foley Hutch: MARLBOROUGH - Maureen A. (Foley) Hutch of Marlborough died Monday, July 9, 2007, at Marlborough Hospital, surrounded by her family. She was the wife of James F. Hutch, who died in 1985.
         Born in Marlborough where she was a lifelong resident, she was the daughter of the late James J. and Mary F. (Gunning) Foley Sr. A 1939 graduate of the former St. Michael's Academy of Hudson, she graduated from secretarial school in Framingham.
         For more than 25 years, she was the executive secretary at Marlborough District Courthouse for Judge Belmonte, retiring in 1992. Previously she was a secretary for the superintendent of Marlborough public schools, and currently, was employed as a secretary for the Audiology Affiliates at Marlborough Hospital.
         Mrs. Hutch was a lifelong member of Immaculate Conception Church, former member of the Ace of Clubs, but most of all, she loved her family and grandchildren.
         She leaves three daughters, Jane F. Correia of Worcester, and Suellen Hutch Landers and Karen A. Wiggin Hutch of Marlborough; a brother, Francis V. "Bud" Foley of Marlborough; two sisters, Sheila A. Foley of Needham and Celeste M. Muhr of Worcester; 10 grandchildren, Amy J. Mercado, Maura A. Gallagher, Ryan M. Correia, Katie Landers, Stacy L. Correia, Kellie J. Hutch, Megan Landers, James R. Hutch, Michael H. Hutch and Shamus Hutch Landers; three great-grandchildren, Justin A. Mercado, Shawn M. Dale and Aiden C. Mercado.
         She was the mother of the late Harry G. Hutch and Karen M. Gallagher and sister of the late James J. Foley.
         The funeral was on Friday, July 13, at 10 a.m., from the John P. Rowe Funeral Home, 57 Main St., Marlborough, with a Mass at 11 a.m., at Immaculate Conception Church, 11 Prospect St., Marlborough.
         Burial followed in Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Marlborough. Memorial donations may be made to the Harry G. Hutch Scholarship Fund, c/o Mr. Kamataris, Marlborough High School, Marlborough, MA 01752.
         Obituaries for week of July 16 Wed Jul 18, 2007 news from the Hudson Sun and MetroWest Daily News
         (E. Brewin emailed me this obituary link in December 2007)
      3. Frances V. (Bud) born March 13, 1924, State Trooper, married Pat, had 6 children, four females and 2 males. Pat died at age 50. Bud married Barbara
      4. Sheila A. born December 6, 1926, married Richard (Dick) Foley (no relation) on October 2, 1948. Dick had been shot down over Poland in WW II. He had been a scout for the Brooklyn Dodgers before going overseas. His legs were paralyzed but he continued to work for the Dodgers as a scout when he was discharged and subsequently worked for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He had two pennant rings! Sheila and Dick had 2 adopted sons.
      5. Celeste born April 27, 1929 married Robert Muhr on October 27, 1952, they had five children (two females and three males)
   2. Mary born February 4, 1894 married George Holey. They had three sons, George (married Evelyn), Leonard (married Mary) and Joseph (married Joan). Mary Foley Holey died March 17, 1934 (when Joseph was born).
   3. Catherine died in infancy
   4. Cornelius J. (Jack) born July 19, 1896. Died December 8, 1929 as a result of exposure to Mustard Gas in WW I.
   5. Richard (Dick) born January 21, 1902 married Matilda B. Egan on August 22, 1926, had two children, Agnes and Richard, Jr., who died at 18 from a drowning accident. Dick died from lung cancer.
   6. Agnes born May 29, 1903 was a Daughter of Charity of St Vincent de Paul and is buried with Mother Seton in Emmitsburg, MD. Had a MA in Spanish. Died of old age July 10, 1992.
   7. Catherine Veronica born October 13, 1904. She grew up in Cambridge MA and was a 5th grade teacher in the Arlington Public School System.
      Marriage Charles Vincent Walsh on July 5, 1930, St Peter's Church in Cambridge, Mass.
      Children: See Charles Walsh above.
      Old Age: Catherine had blood clots, a broken hip and a stroke in her eighties. She lost her eye sight with the stroke.
   8. Joseph born December 26, 1907, a Career Navy Man, married Mazie E. Fox and had one son, Joseph (who married Kathryn, the first female forest ranger). After his divorce, Joe married Carmen and lived in AZ and Ca. Joe died form a tumor behind his eye, late in life.
9. James born October 30, 1867
10. William Leo Augustus born May 23, 1869
    Death: Died October 3, 1940

The January 19, 1953 "Application for Promotion to Deputy Chief of Department" submitted by Charles Walsh, Battalion Chief, 8th Battalion, Gr 11, listed the dates and ranks of his service in the New York Fire Department as follows:

• Date of probation 11-23-32
• Advance to 4th grade 2-23-33
• Advance to 3rd grade 11-23-33
• Advance to 2nd grade 11-23-34
• Advance to 1st grade 11-23-35
• Promoted to Lieutenant 8-15-39
• Promoted to Captain 2-1-42
• Promoted to Battalion Chief 1-1-49

Courtesy of Clare Esser

A "Rutgers-The State University" Certificate of Appreciation was presented to Charles Vincent Walsh

"in sincere and grateful recognition of loyal an faithful service as a co-adjutant lecturer to Rutgers"

Courtesy of Clare Esser

By Earl Lester class of '96

In this era of hectic schedules and ever-increasing concerns about such issues as economic security and crime, it is often easy for people to become so preoccupied with the difficulties of everyday life that they forget what it means to be a great American and Christian. Fortunately, there are still people such as Charles Walsh, a 91 year-old retired New York city firefighter and former baseball player, who through their example provide us with a model of true greatness

Charles Walsh was born to Irish immigrants and is the sole surviving member of a family of ten brothers and sisters. He attended Regis, where he demonstrated his love of baseball by serving as the pitcher of the school baseball team. His keen interest in baseball continued, as he became a minor league player in Salem and Lawrence, Massachusetts. One of his most remarkable feats occurred when he pitched and won both games of a double header, giving up only one run in the process. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1927. Although he made only $300 a month he enjoyed baseball so deeply that he remained a pitcher for the Pirates organization until 1932.

A Different Field

However, Charles Walsh's future did not lie in baseball. During his time as a member of the Pirates organization, he met and married the love of his life, Catherine Foley, of Marlboro. MA. He eventually decided to leave the Pirates and return to New York City. In New York, he fully realized his God-given mission to be a man for other by becoming a firefighter. He rose though the ranks and retired as a deputy chief in 1963. During this time, he raised five daughters who have given him eighteen grandchildren. In addition, he taught firefighting courses at Rutgers University and Queen College. Mr. Walsh is so dedicated to his profession that since his retirement he has published four books on firefighting as a science, the latest of which was published in 1992.

Charles Walsh is truly an exemplary American and Christian. At a time when a pervasive anti-immigrant sentiment exists in America, Mr. Walsh's example reminds us of what heights immigrants and their descendants can reach though hard work and a strong set of moral values. In his example, we should be able to see a part of ourselves since we are all descendants of immigrants who came to America I search of the bountiful opportunities that this land of promise hold. He also provides a valuable lesson to the people who have made a mockery of Americašs perennially favorite pastime, baseball.

An Enduring legacy

Today's baseball players and owners should look to former players like Charles Walsh to learn the fact that the essence of baseball lies not in petty bickering about how many millions of dollars each player earns but rather in the enjoyment of the game itself. Most importantly, Charles Walsh exemplifies true Christianity. In his career as a firefighter, he vividly put into practice the lessons he and many others have learned at Regis about being a man for others. He constantly exhibited a vast amount of courage and strong altruistic sense of selflessly putting his life in danger to save the lives of fellow human beings. Mr. Walsh's family should be very proud of him and make all possible efforts to ensure that his legacy and principles live on in future generations of the Walsh family.

Charles Walsh '21 was nicknamed Ironman during his ball-playing days due to his feat of pitching and winning both ends of a doubleheader.

Courtesy of Clare Esser

Date of Death: 8-7-1998, Date of birth: 8-13-1904, Age: 93, SSN 127-30-5978, Died at daughter's home, 176 Grove Avenue, Verona, N.J., Born Long Branch, N. J. Occupation, Deputy Chief, Fire Department, City of New York Fire Department, New York City. Father, Joseph Walsh, Mother, Margaret Langan. Cause of death: Pneumonia.

Clare Esser, his daughter, added a note to he death record:

"Charles did not have pneumonia. He just faded away after Lib's death 4/30/98."

Courtesy of Clare Esser

Charles Walsh, 93, retired as city deputy fire chief

Charles V. Walsh, former resident of 180 Van Cortlandt Ave. West, died on Aug. 7 while visiting a daughter, Clare Esser, in Verona, N.J. He was 93 years old and made his home with another daughter, Catherine McEneney, in the Bronx.

Mr. Walsh retired in 1962 as a New York Fire Department deputy chief after 31 years of service in the 8th Battalion on 51 Street in Manhattan. He was the author of four books on firefighting and taught firefighting courses at the New York Fire Academy, Rutgers Extension School and at Queens College.

He was a parishioner of Visitation Church in Kingsbridge, a member of the Regis High School Alumni Association, Knights of Columbus Pro Patria Council, and Bronx Holy Name Society, and a founding member of the Uniformed Fire Officers Association of New York.

Besides the two daughters mentioned above, he is survived by two other daughters, Mary Herdman of Red Bank. N. J. and Agnes Riva of Middletown, N.J.; also 18 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren. His wife, the former Catherine Foley, died in April 1990, and two daughters, Margaret Walsh and Elizabeth Garofalo, also predeceased him

A Mass of Christian Burial was offered on Aug 10 at Visitation Church. Paul Herdman, a grandson, delivered the eulogy. In it, he recalled that his grandfather was a farm league pitcher for the Pirates, and the headline in the newspaper read "Walsh Pitches Iron Man". It was a source of collective pride for family.

Mr. Herdman stressed that as deputy fire chief, his grandfather had never lost a man in a fire, and that he always worked to get women on the force as well. His commitment to family, said his grandson, is his legacy.

An honor guard participated in the services, Interment followed at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne, N. Y.

Arrangements were by Williams Funeral Home, Broadway and West 232 Street.

Courtesy of Maria Lahiff Pedulla

The Seventh Regiment of New York
643 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10019
November 11, 2002
Veterans Day Presentation By:
Edward J. McEneney In memory of Pvt. Charles V. Walsh (Deputy Chief NYFD) I Company Third Battalion 107th Infantry

Thank you Al, it is an honor for me to speak on behalf of Charles V. Walsh, Deputy Chief NYFD. He joined I Company on January 28, 1925 and was discharged July 12, 1927.

Chief Walsh was born on August 13, 1904 and lived at 202 East 73rd Street. He was the 6th of 10 children born to Joseph and Maggie Walsh of Ballinrobe, County Mayo, Ireland. His father's occupation, in the 1920 census, was listed as coachman for a private family.

Chief Walsh graduated from Regis High School in 1921, located at 55 East 84th Street and received a tuition free Jesuit education. (Through his life he was very proud of the fact that he could read Greek and Latin). He was offered a scholarship to Yale, which for some unknown reason was unable to take advantage of this opportunity.

He was recruited into the 7th Regiment on January 27th, 1925 for his great athletic ability, not because he was a man of means.

As reported in "The First Hundred Years of Company I, Seventh Regiment N.G.N.Y. 1838-1983".

"In 1925, The Regimental Championship baseball team, which I Company claimed nearly a one quarter interest through the splendid efforts of four I Co. men including Charles Walsh pitcher, played a league game with the 105th Infantry of Troy, NY at Camp Smith and won 9 to 4."

He told me about an incident in a Camp Smith where some members of I co. were ganging up on Pvt. Watson and Pvt. Walsh stepped in and told the others to back off and leave him alone which they did. Mr. Watson was grateful and was able to return a favor, stay tuned for the rest of the story.

"On June 6, 1929 The Seventh Regiment turned out in a mass to take part in the mammoth NYC parade in honor of Captain Charles A. Lindbergh for his successful one-man flight from New York to Paris. A beautiful day greeted the marches, although the route from Bowling Green to Central Park was like marching through a terrific blizzard as tons of paper and tickertape were thrown from the windows and roof tops."

He left baseball and started looking for employment. He contacted his friend from I Co., Pvt. Watson. Mr. Watson's father was a senior Rail Road executive in NYC. Charlie ended up working in the cab of a steam engine as the "fireman".

He married Catherine Foley from Marlborough, Ma. in 1930 and they had six lovely daughters, Mary, Margaret, Catherine, Elizabeth, Agnes and Clare, 18 grandchildren and 36 great grandchildren. (Mary, Cathie and Clare are here with us today).

He joined the NYFD in 1932 and rose through the ranks to become Deputy Chief of the Third Division, which covers midtown Manhattan, including the 7th Regiment. For a period of ten years, he was an instructor in Queens College, The Fire College and Rutgers University. He also published three books, which are used in training fire Officers worldwide.

In conclusion, Chief Charles V. Walsh died 6 days short of his 94th birthday, 7 August 1998. I am pleased to have the opportunity to share with you today, this sketch of a native son who was loyal to his family, Church, NYFD and the 7th Regiment.

Edward J. McEneney
I Company, Third Battalion, 7th Regiment of NY
December 1954 - October 1962

To see photos of Clare Walsh Esser and her family, click on on the photo of Clare Walsh and her husband, Josef Esser

Photo collection of Peggie Goehle Edgar