|
A Royal Canadian Navy Historical Project
In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
BEDARD, Joseph Robert (Ted) - It is with great sadness that the family announces the unexpected passing of Joseph Robert (Ted) Bedard in Fredericton on Thursday, October 21, 2010 at the age of 86. Born in North Bay, Ontario January 21, 1924, the third child in a family of six, he was an avid baseball, hockey and football player, earning the nickname "Teddy" in his high school years. He enlisted in the navy and served as a seaman on the Corvette HMCS Lasalle. Enrolling in UNB in Forestry after the war, he graduated in 1949 and worked briefly for Ashley Colter, before becoming a member of the teaching staff at the Maritime Forest Ranger School, until retirement in 1984. He loved his years at the Ranger School, and spoke proudly of the students, and the fact that the UNB woodlot beside the Ranger School was the perfect laboratory for teaching. He was a member of several Forestry Associations. He was past President and member of the Fredericton Golf and Curling Club Inc. Besides his large and loving family, hockey and golf were Ted's passions. He played hockey while in University for the Red Devils and later was the assistant coach for a number of years and was a loyal supporter of Varsity Hockey until his death. For a number of years he was associated with UNB Alumni and received the UNB Alumni Award of Honour in 1978. He was a veteran of WWII and a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #4, Fredericton. He was predeceased by his wife Elizabeth (Betty) MacDonald; his parents Patrick Bedard and Ida Cote, brother Aurel and sister Rolande. He is survived by his children Michele Bedard, Fredericton; Marc Bedard (Charlotte Stanton) Upper Cape, NB; Anne Bedard (Alan Archibald), Bedford, NS; Jeanne McNeill (Mike), Riverview, NB; twelve grandchildren: Amanda McElman (Bruce White); Josh McElman (Heather); Ben Bedard (Margherita Marcone); Nicole Bedard (Andrew Schapurga); Dan Bedard; Alex Archibald, Sam Archibald, Maggie Archibald, Emma Archibald, Meghan McNeill, Sydney McNeill, Brett McNeill; two great grandchildren Daniel and Liam Starr. He is further survived by two younger brothers, Gerald (Ginette), New York, NY; Joseph Bedard, North Bay, Ontario; and a younger sister Henriette Tanguay, Welland, Ontario. Ted lived a full life until his passing, remaining in the home he and Betty raised their children in, and played golf this summer beating his age twice. Visitation will be held at McAdam's Funeral Home, 160 York Street on Sunday, October 24, 2010 from 7 to 9 pm and Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 pm. The Royal Canadian Legion Branch # 4 will hold a tribute service on Monday evening at 7 pm. The funeral mass celebrating his life well lived will be held on Tuesday October 26, 2010 at 1:00 pm at Holy Family Parish with Father Jack Dolan officiating. A reception will follow the Mass at Holy Family Parish hall. For those who wish, donations to the MS Society or Heart and Stroke Foundation would be greatly appreciated.
Signalman Ted Bedard RCNVR - was born in North Bay Ontario on January 21, 1924. He served in the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. His son Marc Bedard reports that "His full name was Robert Yvon Joseph Bedard, "Ted" was a nickname he received in his youth. My father would have played on the Navy team in Charlottetown in 1943/1944. He did several months of convoy escort duty on the Atlantic out of Halifax in HMCS LaSalle. His first rank upon enlisting was a Stoker 2nd class, then Ordinary Seaman before he became a Signalman RCNVR. After the war he attended the University of New Brunswick 1946-1951. He played hockey for Scollard Hall juvenile team in 1941-1942; he played for the North Bay Trappers Junior B team in 1942-1943; in spring, 1943 he was drafted by the Galt Kist Canadians to play Junior A hockey but joined the Navy in late summer, 1943. He played hockey for the Navy team in Charlottetown for the winter of 1943-1944 while he was posted to the HMCS Queen Charlotte. The team played in the PEI Senior Hockey League. After the war ended, he was discharged in October, 1945 . In the fall of 1946-1947, he enrolled at the University of New Brunswick in Forestry. He played hockey for UNB in 1947-1949. UNB had hired Peter Kelly to start their varsity hockey program. Pete was a former NHLer who won a couple of Stanley Cups with Detroit in the late 1930s. Ted was named MVP of the team in the 1947-1948 season and was captain of the team in 1948-1949. He stayed involved with UNB hockey and was the Assistant Coach under Pete Kelly from 1957-1966. After his university time he spent a career teaching at the Maritime Forest Ranger School in Fredericton, retiring in 1984. He died in Fredericton on 21 Oct 2010. (The Nauticapedia)
Ships served in:
Signalman Ted Bedard RCNVR Photo courtesy of the Bedard collection Source: The Nauticapedia
|
For Posterity's Sake 
