Edward Patrick Cosgrove

    Edward Patrick Cosgrove, 81, loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather passed peacefully surrounded by his family on December 11, 2025.
    Ed was born in Enterprise, Alabama to Alfred and Virginia. His family moved to San Diego, when Ed was 4 years old. He began his scholastic career at St. Rita’s Catholic school where he would make lifelong friends before graduating high school at El Capitan. Immediately after high school, Ed entered the U.S. Army. When his Army service ended in mid-1965, Ed entered the U.S. Forest Service, specializing in fire control aid with the El Cariso Hot Shots. On November 1, 1966, the Loop Fire started in the Angeles National Forest, catching the crew of El Cariso Hot Shots off guard when the Santa Ana winds changed direction, trapping them in a sudden blow-up of fire. Ten members of the crew perished in the Loop Fire that day. Another two members succumbed from burn injuries in the following days. Ed was among nineteen members who survived with critical burns. He would go on to share his story with countless classes of fire academy students and Forest Service members, sharing valuable lessons learned with a new generation of firefighters.
    In 1967, Ed began his apprenticeship journey to become an electrician with the IBEW, where he would work as a Journeyman Wireman for over 40 years before retiring in 2009. In his retirement he would become a senior volunteer with the San Marcos Fire Department, making a lot of friends with the department during this time. Ed was a passionate fan of the San Diego Padres, enjoyed golfing and spending time with his family.
    Ed was predeceased by his brothers George and Alan Cosgrove, and survived by his wife of 58 years, Judy Cosgrove, his children Susan Andersen, Edward J. Cosgrove, and Rebecca Koke, his grandchildren Lindsey Kinniburgh, Leanne Hahn, Lauren Hahn, Seth Wuersch, Michael Cosgrove, and Hannah Cosgrove, step-grandchildren P.J. Donaldson and Carly Donaldson, and great-grandchild A.J. Aguayo. 

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