Edward "Ed" Dwyer II

Edward Keith Dwyer II, ‘Ed,’ age 78, of Fairhope, Alabama passed away peacefully at the Retreat Hospice by Saad in Mobile on April 14, 2023 after a courageous nine-month battle with cancer. He was born on February 19, 1945, in New Orleans, Louisiana, son of the late Lawrence Hugh Dwyer, Sr. and the late Anna Belle Lambert Dwyer. Ed was the second eldest of his four siblings. Ed is a graduate of De La Salle High School, in New Orleans. Ed attended Louisiana State University-New Orleans (LSUNO) where he earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and was a member of Phi Kappa Theta fraternity. He passed the Certified Public Accountant exam and in 1969 was employed by the firm formerly known as Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. in New Orleans. Ed was drafted into the United States Army in 1970. He spent 18 months during the Vietnam War as a Specialist Five Auditor, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff Comptroller, Headquarters, United States Army Support, Thailand. Notably, he received the Army Commendation Medal for exceptionally meritorious service for exemplifying the highest standards of efficiency and professionalism in the performance of his duties. This honor was awarded by John W. Vessey, Jr., Ed’s Commanding General, who later became Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In 1973, Ed became tax manager and later director of taxes for Ocean Drilling & Exploration Co. (ODECO), a NYSE-traded multinational oil and gas exploration, production, and service company, where he was employed for 11 years. Ed earned an M.S. in taxation degree from the University of New Orleans during this time. In 1984, he rejoined the New Orleans office of KPMG Peat Marwick as an international tax partner where for six years he served various Gulf South-based clients engaged in the energy industry, exporting and other international operations. In 1990, he established his own specialized international tax and business consulting practice in New Orleans, which he successfully built and executed over the years until his recent illness no longer allowed it. He did so through dedication to his valued clients and with the same exceptional efficiency and professionalism as so noted by General Vessey. Ed’s international tax, business technical and practical knowledge and abilities cannot be duplicated or replaced. Ed was a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, where he served on the International Taxation Committee, and the Society of Louisiana CPA’s. Ed spent countless hours supporting and collaborating with many fellow members analyzing and discussing international tax and business issues. He served on the International Business Committee of New Orleans World Trade Center, and Executive Committee and Treasurer of the Louisiana District Export Council. Ed authored numerous articles on international tax topics. He also taught a course on international taxation in the UNO Graduate School of Business and was a frequent speaker on international tax and trade topics to professional groups and trade associations. Ed was a long-time member of Rotary International, and served in many leadership capacities including local Metairie, Louisiana Chapter President. Ed was a member and softball player with the Over the Mountain Athletic Club in New Orleans. Ed and his late wife Martha moved to Fairhope, Alabama in 2003. When Ed was not consulting with his beloved clients, he could be found on the Rock Creek Golf Course, in his garden where he earned Garden of the Month on two occasions, or with Martha in one of their many favorite restaurants throughout the Gulf Coast: Café Acadiana, Mr. Spuds, The Blue Marlin, Jesse’s Restaurant, The Ravenite Pizzeria, Big Daddy’s, the Sugar Kettle, Mr. Gene’s Beans, Sage, Sunset Grille, the Dragonfly and Julwyn’s in Baldwin County; or The Blind Tiger in Bay St. Louis; and Mandina’s or Camellia Grill in New Orleans. Ed never let his careful diet keep him away from his rotation of favorite eateries, where he was a favorite among waitstaff for his gregarious charm and easy banter. Ed loved SEC college sports and was an avid LSU fan and member of the local LSU Alumni Association chapter known as the Baldwin Bengals. Ed is predeceased by his wife Martha Burris Dwyer, his daughter Erin Coleen Dwyer, and his brother Lawrence Hugh Dwyer, Jr. He is survived by his daughter Bonnie Dwyer; his sons Edward “Keith” Dwyer and Ryan “Duffy” Dwyer; three grandchildren, Aisling Maher, Cian Healy and Miles Dwyer; and his sisters Anne Dwyer Walle and Edith Dwyer L’Hoste; as well as nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and many friends, clients, and colleagues in New Orleans, Sante Fe, Fairhope and worldwide. Ed was a special and caring person who is and will be sorely missed by all. The Dwyer family wants to thank the staff at Thomas Hospital in Fairhope, especially Louisa in the intensive care unit as well as Andrea and the staff at the Retreat Hospice by Saad in Mobile, who cared for Ed in his final days. A funeral Mass and celebration of Ed’s life will be held at the Shrine of the Holy Cross, 612 Main Street, Daphne, Alabama., Thursday, May 4, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. Ed’s remains will be interred at St. Joseph Abbey Cemetery, 75376 River Road, St. Benedict, Louisiana, on Thursday, May 11, 2023. A funeral liturgy followed by a Rite of Committal will begin at 2:00 p.m. Visitation will be held from 1:00-2:00 p.m., and family and friends are invited to attend. In Ed’s memory, donations can be made to The Rotary Foundation by visiting online at Rotary.org, or to the Shrine of the Holy Cross.