Edward Rhodes

Ted was blessed with a beautiful strong tenor voice. His earliest memories were of singing the Messiah choruses, an important Christmas tradition, alongside his dear mum and sister in the pews of a chapel in Elland, a small mill town in West Yorkshire.

Ted met Rae, his lovely wife, during a very happy time as students in Manchester. Shortly after completing his PhD in Chemical Engineering Ted was recruited by the University of Waterloo, and together they emigrated to Canada in 1964.

He enjoyed teaching, research and administration at the University of Waterloo (Department Chair for 11 years), the University of Calgary (Dean of Engineering) the Technical University of Nova Scotia (President) and Dalhousie University (Vice President). He also served as VP Technology for an international petrochemical company. He made time for his love of music by founding the Kitchener-Waterloo Opera Guild, producing six large scale operettas for the K-W Oktoberfest. He studied music in his lunch breaks

In 2006, he found a place for himself in this beautiful valley. He joined the Cowichan Consort Choir and the Cowichan Symphony Society where he served on the Board for many years.

He was loved and supported by his wife, Rae, and will be incredibly missed by her, and their daughter Nina (Simon), son John (Elena) and grandchildren Daniel and Anna. He made lifelong friends worldwide, and will be particularly missed in the Cowichan Valley where he played golf, and had a daily date at 7 a.m. for fun, debate and coffee with friends.

He and Rae worked hard in their garden, and of course Ted fitted in a weekly singing session with his accompanist. He was a hard worker, and a gentle and kind man. Ted died peacefully surrounded by his family, in his home overlooking the beautiful garden which he loved.

As expressions of sympathy, in lieu of flowers, the family would dearly appreciate donations to the Cowichan Symphony Society (https://cowichansymphonysociety.ca/donate/), or the Cowichan Consort Choir by cheque.

There will be a celebration of life in the early New Year.