John Andrew Eldridge 1966-2020

A place to remember our peers who have completed their last voyage on this earth. Finish With Engines.
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JK
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John Andrew Eldridge 1966-2020

Post by JK »

We continue to lose fine men and woman in the industry at too young an age.
Rip John and my condolences to your family.

http://www.stgeorgefh.ca/obituaries/148947
It is with profound sadness that we announce the sudden passing of John Andrew Eldridge at his home in Lake Utopia, New Brunswick on September 19th, 2020. John was born in Newmarket Ontario on March 29th, 1966 and was the son of Ann and the late Myles Eldridge.

John is survived by his loving wife Lisa (Nee Tighe) and his children Abby and Elias. He is also survived by his sister Susan, brother Mark, nieces, nephews and other family.

John grew up in the small community of Beaver Harbour on the shores of the Bay of Fundy and it is there that his intense love of the sea was cultivated. In those formative years, he, along with his close-knit family and friends, explored and grew to respect the ocean and the abundant marine life in and around it. It was these early years that would chart the course for his future life.

As a young man, John attended the Canadian Coast Guard College and graduated Suma Cum Laude in 1987. Following his seagoing career, he was assigned to the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Halifax where he continued to contribute to the safety of Canada’s waters.

In 1995, John and his wife Lisa launched Quoddy Link Marine, an eco-tourism business operating out of St. Andrews, New Brunswick. Over the years the company has grown and flourished and, as was their dream, introduced thousands of people to the wonders of the ocean and its inhabitants.

A born innovator, John was always looking for ways to improve the “state-of-the-art”. He worked with boat designers to develop unique hull forms and configurations that would improve the experiences of his whale watching clients, while increasing safety and efficiency.

Perhaps the most notable of John’s many professional achievements was playing the lead role in the development of hybrid propulsion for ships. His initial concept, which was intended to reduce air and noise emissions from his tour boats, became the foundation for what would become the world’s first hybrid marine propulsion system.

John was an enthusiastic participant in any activities that grabbed his attention and everyone that worked with him developed an intense respect for his intelligence, work ethic, compassion and wit. In his local area, he earned a reputation for tirelessly advocating on behalf of his industry and working toward the betterment of the community. He remained respectful and professional in his interactions with others and was humble in spite of his many accomplishments.

For all of his professional successes, John’s life revolved around his family and friends. He was incredibly proud of his children and their many achievements and loved traveling with his family and sharing with them his love of the world and the people in it. Never one to leave his hands idle, either professionally or personally, he always had a pet project on the go, and he delighted in drawing the people he loved into experiencing the project with him.

John was an avid sailor, diver, basketball player, Raptors fan, carpenter, motorcyclist and outdoorsman … there were very few days that saw him with nothing to do.

John had many loyal friends both at home and around the world that will forever remember him as a quiet and gentle man who could be relied on in both good times and bad.

His legacy will stand the test of time.

Fair winds and following seas John … we will miss you.

There will be a celebration in honour of John’s life commencing at 2:00pm, Thursday, September 24, 2020 at the Market Wharf in St. Andrews.
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