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Edward Arthur Lipsett
August 19, 1952 - December 23, 2012
Tribute
It is with profound sadness that we announce the death of Edward “Ed” Lipsett. A mariner to the end, Ed fought his last storm bravely, dying peacefully in the arms of his wife, Colleen. With Colleen, Ed will be lovingly remembered by his son Jordan, daughter Adria (Josh), their mother Joyce and grandsons Ewan and Arlen. Ed will also be missed by his mother Lucille, sister Cherralee (Allan), cousin Georgie (Doug), Leslie, Laura and many other family and friends.
A man of the sea, Ed’s family has a long-established history along B.C.’s West Coast. Many fishermen hauled their salmon in with trolling gurdies built by the Lipsett Engine Manufacturing Co. Ed had success as a marine surveyor, commercial fisherman and consultant on Aboriginal fishing rights. Ed also served tirelessly on many boards, commissions and programs that benefitted coastal fishermen and their communities. More recently, Ed was the vice-president and director of the Ladysmith Harbour Association.
Ed was most at home near the ocean and in nature. He took many trips up and down the coast, including a memorable expedition with Adria to photograph remote canneries. And each fall, Ed couldn’t wait to pack up his truck and head north to Prince Rupert for an annual moose hunt with buddies.
Ed also crossed waters. From singing in the great cathedrals of Europe as a member of the B.C. Boys Choir to designing fish farms in Cuba and walking the Great Wall of China with Jordan, Ed made friends with the world. He was looking forward to many more adventures at home and abroad.
Ed had many loves, and found his true first mate later in life – reconnecting with his high school chum Colleen after nearly 40 years apart. They put down anchor in an old cottage by the sea where they planned to live out their lives together. Although Ed’s life was cut short, we can all take solace he lived it big.
A send-off for Ed will be held at the Ladysmith Maritime Society Welcome Centre at 610 Oyster Bay Drive, Ladysmith, B.C., on Saturday, January 5 at 1 p.m. Please ensure you are dressed warmly.
Condolences
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From: H.W. Wallace Cremation and Burial Centre Staff
H.W. Wallace Cremation and Burial Centre Staff send our condolences to family and friends. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
From: Brian and Kate Fitzgerald
Relation: cousin through marriage
Dear Colleen and family,
Brian and I are so sorry about you losing Edward so soon after finding him again. It certainly doesn’t seem fair and it’s hard to wonder why it had to happen. We are so glad that you did get to spend his last years with him as it was so apparent how much you love each other. We loved hearing the story of your youth and finding each other again. It was so wonderful to hear you telling the story and to see Edward smile along with you. It was the one time we saw him at peace and that said everything. We hope that in the next lifetime, you will again find each other at a young age and have the wisdom from this life’s experience to know to hang on. All our lessons in lives are so important to the next one.
He was such a gentle man and we wish our lives had allowed us to know you both better. Your brother, Phillip and sister-in-law, Francis are such lovely people who have been such great support for you and we’re so glad you have that kind of family.
We had hoped to get up to see Aunt Lucille yesterday, but we both came down with an awful flu and don’t dare go into the home. The family brought the bug from Whistler, although I’m sure it’s everywhere.
We will be up for the funeral, and we know it will be packed with so many wonderful friends and family. Edward led such a giving and interesting life.
Please know that you are in our thoughts and we are glad that you held Edward in your arms for both your sakes. In love, Brian and Kate
From: Margaret Choinski
Relation: My brother-in-law
Proud to know you Ed, and so very happy you joined our family (at last).
I feel better knowing my big brother is watching over us, steering us through rough waters.
From: Joan Gilbert
Relation: through the sports fishing industry
Sincere sympathy from the Gilbert Family, Brentwood Bay, B.C.
From: Lynn Atkinson-Boutette
Relation: High school friends
I was shocked and upset to read in Facebook that Ed had passed . My husband and I will be moving back to the West Coast from Toronto in a few years and I was looking forward to living on Vancouver Island and seeing him again.
Out of the blue, about 17 years ago, I was surprised to receive a 10 page letter from Ed talking about our high school years, rock climbing, and Christmas caroling door-to-door, among other things. I thought, it was just male menopause; he’s nostalgic for a time in his life when he was happy. But subsequently we renewed our friendship and I discovered what a wonderful and very interesting man he was. I visited him on his houseboat in Sydney and kept in touch whenever I could. He took me to our 20th ?? Grad reunion, West Vancouver Secondary, lifted me out of his truck in the pouring rain, and got me into my wheelchair (I had developed multiple sclerosis, and couldn’t walk by then.)
A few years later, when my husband and I were living in Toronto, I tracked down Ed on the West Coast and asked him if he could help because we had decided to vacation in Cuba. (He had sold fishing boats to the Cuban government and had many wonderful stories of his time there.)
The last time I saw Ed he was in his new home in Ladysmith that he had bought with Colleen, whom I had gone to elementary school with. Their reconnection and subsequent marriage is a story I never tire of telling.
I will miss Ed’s e-mails and his gentle spirit. Thank you for your friendship, Love Lynn
From: Lynn & Brian Stannard
Relation: Neighbours
Although we didn’t know Edward well, we came to sense his great sense of humour, while discussing broken water lines in the dark or a certain errant dog over the phone. Our sympathy goes out to Colleen and the family.
From: Alberta Woodworth
Relation: friend for years
My deepest sympathy to Lucille and the Lipsett family
From: Ian Pocock
Relation: Family Friend
We have had the privilege of knowing Ed for quite a few years, and the pleasure of visiting with Ed and Colleen on many delightful occasions. Ed has been a great and generous friend to us all, and we will remember him with much love.
His passion for the sea and the great outdoors came through in nearly every conversation, and his range of stories and anecdotes was unsurpassed – if Ed didn’t have a story about it, it probably wasn’t worth talking about. He was a tireless advocate for many causes, including native matters and the business of fishing, and Ed was never shy of heaping praise where it was due, and something else where it wasn’t! Ed’s love of boats was something we shared, and we will miss him for that and so many other reasons – a favourite warning of Ed’s to us when talking abouts kayaks was: “Never trust a boat you have to wear!”
Farewell Ed – it was way too short a time, but still an absolute joy to have known you. Our sincerest condolences to Colleen and all Ed’s family and friends for the untimely loss of such a great guy.
Lizzie & Ian Pocock and Family
Service Schedule
Private service arrangements have been made.
Memorial Gifts
The family has not designated a preferred charity at this time.
Thank You Notice
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