New Brunswick Rowing Legend Dies At 49

The rowing world in Canada and the United States is mourning the sudden passing of Ed Winchester.

The 49-year-old, who was born in Saint John and raised in Rothesay , won gold in the men’s lightweight pair competition at the 2000 World Championships among many other athletic accolades.

From his home in Weston, Massachusetts, his younger brother Steve said Ed loved the community aspect of rowing.

“Ed actually found a passion in the actual competition of it all. He was not someone you have to ask to go workout, he’s not someone you have to ask to wake up early and go to the rowing club at 5 a.m.,” Winchester said.

Winchester was also a journalist working for newspapers in Saint John, Fredericton and in Abbotsford, B.C. over his career.

“The Canadian and international rowing community has lost an absolute legend in Ed Winchester.”
RCA statement: https://t.co/5ff7OAyjcr pic.twitter.com/UncqyozcCq

— Rowing Canada Aviron (@rowingcanada) April 23, 2020

His two passions combined when he got a job at the Rowing News when publisher Chip Davis hired him.

“He absolutely loved that job and I thank Chip every day for giving him that shot that kept him in the rowing world at a very detailed level,” Winchester said.

Ed Winchester pent the last 13 years as the executive director of marketing at Tuck Business school in Hanover, New Hampshire.

Steve Winchester said he’s been fielding calls, text, emails and social media messages since his brother died from colleagues speaking about Ed’s leadership at work to friends talking about the quality human being he was.

“People from the rowing community which he had a hand in all of it from collegiate on up to the Olympics. It’s was his passion. His high school friends, it pains all of us to know he’s not here with us anymore,” Winchester said.

Ed Winchester was also a father of three.