Edward Joseph McDonagh Jr., was born to Irish immigrants in Queens, New York. He was their only son and had three sisters. As a child he helped his father on construction sites and was an altar boy at church. Eddie loved playing sports. Baseball was a favorite of his. He was the father to five beautiful kids and husband to his wife, Kimberly.

After high school, Eddie joined the United States Marine Corps. He served in Desert Storm and after four years made his way back to New York.

Eddie joined the FDNY in 1996. He was first assigned to Engine Company 324 as a firefighter. September 11, 2001, found Eddie, as it did so many of his brothers, at the World Trade Center. He would work on the pile for the next several months, in addition to his normal tours at E-324. Eddie would stay at E-324 for 13 years before getting promoted to lieutenant. Eventually Eddie was assigned to Engine Company 37 in Harlem. They share the house with Ladder Company 40.

In April of 2014 he was diagnosed with 9/11-related cancer. He would fight like a warrior for the next three and a half years, finally succumbing to his disease on November 12, 2017, surrounded by his family and friends.