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Edmund "Bear" Downing, 61, passed away on May 30th, 2005 in Seattle, Washington. He was born February 27, 1944 in San Jose, California. After a long career as a computer consultant in California, Bear Downing and his wife, Katherine, moved aboard their 38' sailboat Volant. They lived aboard Volant for 10 years in Florida sailing the waters of the Florida Keys, the Bahamas, the Caribbean and the Eastcoast from Nova Scotia to Panama. Bear obtained his 50 Ton US Coast Guard Captain's License in 1999. His interest in Nautical History led him to write a series of articles on the Origin of Nautical terms. These articles were subsequently published in booklet form.
After moving to Seattle in the fall of 2003, he immediately became a sailing instructor at the Windworks Sailing Center at Shilshole Marina. Here he combined his joy of being on to water with his interest in teaching sailing skills.
He is survived by his wife of 22 years, Katherine "Kit" Hitchcock; two sons and one daughter-in-law, Todd Downing of Seattle, WA, Gavin & Michele Downing of Seattle; one daughter, Sara Nolan of Bellingham, WA; one grandson, Tyler Downing of Seattle; two granddaughters, Zadra Nolan of Bellingham and Kayleigh Downing of Seattle, his former wife of 14 years and her husband, Nancy and Robert Pace of Sedro Wooley, WA.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Edmund "Bear" Downing Memorial Sailing Scholarship Fund in care of:
Windworks Sailing Center
7001 Seaview Ave NW, Suite 204
Seattle, WA 98117.