EDMUND DEARDEN

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

EDMUND DEARDEN

Peacefully, on Good Friday, March 29, 2024, Ed passed away at Misericordia Hospital at the age of 96.

Ed was predeceased by his loving wife Lois, on January 13, 2018. Parents, Dorothy and Samuel Dearden, brother Fred Dearden (Vi) and brother-in-law Dave Farlinger (Roslyn) predeceased him.

Ed will be lovingly remembered by his daughter Cathy (Howie Blatt) and son Craig (Cathy Boase). He was very proud of his grandsons, David Blatt (Seri), Josh Blatt (Karlee), Riley Dearden (Amy Barrington) and Adam Dearden. Ed was a great-grandfather to Hannah and Maya Blatt and Weston, Anna and Forrest Dearden. He is remembered by sister-in-law Evie Tanner (Dr. John Tanner) and several nieces and nephews. He is also survived by Linda Mulherin, mother of Riley and Adam.

Born in Winnipeg on September 8, 1927, he grew up in the West Kildonan area. As a youth, he was very active in sports, particularly excelling in baseball and hockey. During his high school years at Centennial High School, Ed met his beloved wife Lois at a school dance and walked her home. Ed and Lois were married for 67 years.

After graduating from high school, Ed went directly to the Winnipeg Tribune newspaper in 1944. He was an apprentice printer in the composing room and was in his second year when the labour dispute forced the removal of all union shop employees. Transitioning to transportation, Ed spent the next 13 years with the Canadian Pacific Railway. The newspaper business was Ed’s passion however and he spent the last 10 years of his railway career freelancing for the Winnipeg Tribune sports department.

He joined the Tribune sports department on a permanent basis in 1959. Initially the night sports editor, Ed was appointed assistant sports editor in 1965, which included becoming the golf writer and golf columnist. That same year he started covering golf on a freelance basis on CJOB radio. In addition to local golf coverage, he reported on many national and international competitions. During the mid-1970s, Ed welcomed the additional role of covering the Winnipeg Jets of the WHA. He also served as the colour commentator for the Jets games on CJOB.

Following the demise of the Winnipeg Tribune in 1980, he continued his golf reports for CJOB until 1989. Prior to his retirement in 1990, Ed served as the media coordinator for the sports branch of the provincial government.

Ed served many years on the selection committee for the Manitoba Golfer of the Year and had been on the Grey Owl Golf Tournament board of directors for over 40 years. He was a past president of the Manitoba Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association and was elected to that group’s Media Roll of Honour in 1990. Ed is also a member of the Manitoba Hockey, Golf and Basketball Halls of Fame.

Ed balanced his love of sports and family with numerous camping trips and in later years shared wonderful vacations with Lois to Palm Springs and England. He always had time for his Winnipeg and Calgary families. His hobbies included a passion for maintaining a meticulous home and yard and was always willing to take on a project, whether it be building a rec room or a fence. In later years, he was still a loyal sports fan, watching his Blue Jays, Winnipeg Jets, and Blue Bombers on TV.

A Celebration of Life will be held Wednesday, June 19 at St. Charles Country Club, 100 Country Club Blvd. Winnipeg at 12:00 noon.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Ed’s memory to the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba, 10-120 Donald Street, Winnipeg, MB R3C 4G2.

Should you prefer, a golf scholarship has been created in memory of Ed’s outstanding support of golf in Manitoba. Donations will be accepted on the Golf Manitoba website www.golfmb.ca or by cheque (Golf Manitoba Scholarship Fund Inc.) 420 –145 Pacific Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3B 2Z6.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 01, 2024, Jun 01, 2024