Edward Kelly

Edward Kelly

President, Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts

Age: 37

Place of Birth: Boston, MA

Where you live: Dorchester section of Boston

First Job: boxed fruit at a market

What it taught me: People count on you to do your job, no matter the task. Give full effort always.

Status: Married

Family: wife Katy, daughter Maggie Rose and son Thomas Gregory

Three things people would be surprised to know about me:

1. I pray every day

2. I canyon jumped in the Swiss Alps

3. I am an avid motorcyclist-toured the Black Hills of South Dalota and Sturgis among other places

Best advice you could give someone starting out: Stay true to your beliefs. Always treat everyone with respect. There is no subsitute for hard work and above all else, listen to those who have gone before you.

Ed Kelly was born in Boston on December 19, 1973. He was one of six children. Ed has three brothers and two sisters. Ed is a veteran of the US Air Force, where he served as a firefighter. Ed was brought up in a firefighting family. His grandfather, father and uncle all were Boston firefighters.

Ed also has two of his brothers Boston firefighters. Early on, Ed was elected to the Executive Board of the firefighters Local 718. He followed that by sucessfully running for President of the union.

In this position, Ed was able to negoiate one of the best contracts the union has had. Ed stepped down as President of Local 718 to return to the firehouse. He is assigned to Tower Ladder 17, the busiest fire truck in Boston.

Ed also serves as President of the Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts, which represents 12,000 career firefighters and paramedics across the state.

Ed is the youngest person ever to lead this prestigious labor union.

Ed has visited Ireland and gone to his grandmother, Sarah McLaughlin’s neighborhood on Iles Road in Buncrana in County Donegal.

Ed has also toured the countryside and is looking forward to bringing his children there. Ed’s wife also lived for three years in Ireland, in Galway and in County Waterford, where she coached the Waterford Wildcats, a pro basketball team.