Ed Toner assumed many roles: teacher, coach, administrator, professional football player, avid sports fan, just to name a few . . .
But above all, Toner, who died Thursday at age 81, was a family and community man.
It was that simple for the former Boston Patriot (1967-70), who played 26 professional games, wore No. 75 long before Vince Wilfork, and played with greats such as Houston Antwine, Jim Lee Hunt, Larry Eisenhauer, Bob Dee, Gino Cappelletti, and Jim Nance, whom Toner once called “a great friend.”
And to say the Toners were a football family would be an understatement. Brother Tom played for the Green Bay Packers, while son Ed Jr. suited up for the Indianapolis Colts – Swampscott High and Boston College before that.
Not bad, Toners.
Ed was born in Reading and graduated from Lynn English (Class of 1961), where he was a star on the gridiron. He then attended prep school for a year.
From there, Toner was off to Amherst to play football for UMass. He played with Phil Vandersea and Milt Morin, all three of whom played professionally out of the Yankee Conference school. Toner was roommates with Tom Iarrobino, a St. Mary’s graduate who called Toner after hearing they were both attending UMass.
Toner impressed. One of his Redmen (now Minutemen) coaches was Fred Glatz, who later coached St. John’s Prep to more than 100 wins.
Toner was drafted by the Patriots (third round) in the American Football League draft; Baltimore Colts in the National Football League (18th round).
He chose the Patriots “because they played at Fenway Park, and Ted Williams was my idol,” he once said, on top of family considerations.
With the Patriots, Toner (6-2, 250 pounds) started a game in 1967 and recorded a sack in 1968, according to ProFootballReference.com.
He was tough as nails and fast for his size.
Toner the player was special, but Toner the person – a gentle giant – was on a different level. Through optimism and belief, he influenced generations of students through Lynn Public Schools.
On top of receiving recognition in Lynn, he was also named the New England Patriots’ first Alumni Volunteer of the Year in 2017.
He helped with Special Olympics, blood drives, and other events. He’d appear inside of Foxborough’s Bass Pro Shops, which neighbors Gillette Stadium, to assist Christmas giveaways for foster homes.
On a side note, when Toner suffered a leg injury, the Patriots’ alumni organization even set him up with a personal driver.
“If there’s an event where a Patriots alumni is needed, I usually go,” Toner said in 2017. “It could be a Wounded Warrior event, a turkey giveaway, autograph session – I usually go.”
He remained active with the Patriots’ alumni association until this year.
Toner lived in Swampscott and was surrounded by loving family members before his death.
A Celebration of Life will be held Friday in Lynn’s Solimine Funeral Home. Memorial visiting hours (9 a.m.-noon) will be followed by a memorial service at noon.
