Edward Lawrence Kidder

Ed is survived by his wife and best friend of 57 years, Pat Kidder (née Whalen), son Dean (estranged), daughter Nicalena Chidley, beloved grandchildren Eleasha, Caleb, and Farakina, as well as nieces, nephews, cousins, and aunties.

Ed married Pat, his high school sweetheart, in 1961; at the same becoming an assistant Light House Keeper at Gallows Pt. Light Station on Protection Island in Nanaimo Harbour. He would go on to serve at six different stations over his 42 year career, including Quatsino Sound, Carmanah Pt., Scarlett Pt., Sandheads, and culminating in 33 years from 1970 to 2003 at Nootka, Yuquot, Friendly Cove.

At Nootka, Ed would perform marine rescues in the hundreds, including pulling a total of 27 people from the frothy seas who otherwise would have perished. Ed’s many acts of bravery earned him two Queen’s Jubilee Medals at his retirement. Ed fought the Federal government feverishly alongside others, against the destaffing of Light Houses, helping to win several victories.

Ed and Pat retired to the Qualicum Beach area in 2003 at the age of 60, taking early retirement due to the onset of COPD. He would go on to fight new battles in health, helping his love beat terminal cancer, ever going against the flow of established norms and blazing a different path. He fought a twenty year battle with COPD that resulted in two aortic aneurysms that threatened his life. A nine hour surgery in 2018 fixed the aneurysms, but undoubtedly strained his already damaged lungs.

Ed was taken to the hospital the morning of March 27th with assumed pneumonia. Tests would reveal his lungs had stopped functioning due to the COPD. Ed passed away at 11p.m. in the arms of his love and presence of his daughter, grandson, and niece.

Forever loved and remembered by family, friends, and those whose lives he rescued from the sea.

No service will be held. We simply ask you to raise a beverage of the non-alcoholic variety for the man who kept the Light burning.