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garson
Lokahi
USA
112 Posts |
 Posted - 09/08/2010 : 05:41:03 AM
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Many of you know of the pivotal role that Ed and Helen Bigelow played in starting and maintaining George Kahumoku's Slack Key Workshop. In many ways Ed and Helen were the surrogate parents of the Maui Workshop Ohana.
Ed's most visible contribution was as author of the slack key manual "Dis an Dat" and the workshop song book, well used copies of which we cherish, along with our memories of his warm smile.
Here are letters from Nancy Kahumoku and Helen Bigelow about Ed and his Memorial.
Aloha Workshop Students,
Our dear friend, Ed Bigelow, passed away recently. Ed was instrumental in encouraging George to start his annual workshop and helped materially, intellectually, and spiritually to carry on on through a rough beginning the first few years to develop the workshop into the fourteenth year of what now feels like an annual family reunion of Hawaiians at heart.
Those of you on Maui, please attend the gathering on Sept 12. If you would like to write to Helen, her email is hpbig @ ix.netcom.com. Also, below her letter is Ed’s obituary in the San Francisco Chronicle. It also appeared in the Maui News.
Sincerely,
Nancy Kahumoku
Dear Friends,
As I hope you already have heard, there will be a gathering and remembrance for Ed Bigelow on Sunday morning Sept. 12 at the Lae'ula O Kai canoe hale at Kanaha Beach Park on Maui (just makai of the airport). Canoe launching will be about 9:30, and then when the canoes come back in from scattering the ashes and flowers, we will have food and music and, I hope, some talk story from anyone who wants to share a memory of Ed. Please bring your guitars and 'ukeleles and if you want to contribute food, bring something for dessert. And thank you all ever so much for all the messages of friendship and caring that you have sent to Ed and me throughout his long struggle with cancer. He was a lovely, wonderful man, wasn't he.
Mahalo and I look forward to seeing you on the 12th.
Love, Helen
Here is the San Francisco Chronicle obituary for those who have not seen it
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/08/22/MNBIGELOWE4.DTL
Edward Burr Bigelow Of Ha`iku, Maui and Palo Alto, Calif. died on August 11 at his California home. Bigelow was born in Chicago on May 21, 1937, and moved to the Bay Area with his family in the 1940s. A graduate of Indiana's Purdue University, he traveled widely and served as an apprentice photographer in Munich before developing a successful career as a freelance photographer in the Bay Area, where he worked for Sunset Books and numerous Silicon Valley companies. Bigelow's interest in energy conservation led to his appointment as Deputy Director of Pennsylvania's Energy Council in the 1980s. In later years Bigelow became a professional computer consultant, and computer guru for family and friends. He was a highly accomplished fine art photographer and digital artist, his work culminating in the 2009 release of David Park, Painter: Nothing Held Back, the story written by Helen Park Bigelow with photographs and remastered images of Park's paintings done by Ed Bigelow. Through his lifelong love of music and language Bigelow discovered Hawaiian slack key guitar. He was instrumental in the inception of the annual George Kahumoku, Jr.'s Slack Key Guitar & `Ukulele Workshop on Maui. Ed and his wife Helen were deeply involved with Hawai`i for many years and made Maui their permanent home in 2005, until his illness forced them to return to Palo Alto in 2009. Bigelow continued to play `ukulele into the last weeks of his life. In honor of his commitment to perpetuating Hawaiian music, a scholarship fund has been established to help young Island musicians attend the Kahumoku slack key workshop. In lieu of flowers please send contributions to the Ed Bigelow Slack Key Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 1016, Ha`iku, Maui, HI 96708. Ed is survived by his wife Helen, his daughters Terry Tobey and Kathryn Wilder of Ha`iku, Maui and Peg Pierce of Corralitos, Calif., and four grandchildren.
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Lawrence
Ha`aha`a
USA
1597 Posts |
Posted - 09/08/2010 : 06:38:43 AM
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I do indeed mourn his passing. He did very greatly affect my journey in music and probably the musical journey of many others. His warm smile and gentle manner will be missed.
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Mahope Kākou...
...El Lorenzo de Ondas Sonoras |
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Mark
Ha`aha`a
USA
1628 Posts |
Posted - 09/08/2010 : 08:26:41 AM
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I am sad to learn of Ed's passing. He had a huge heart, and was passionate about spreading the word about slack key back when it was still hard to find.
Aloha Oe, Ed. I am sure we get a tune sometime in that great jam session over yonder. |
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Admin
Pupule
USA
4551 Posts |
Posted - 09/08/2010 : 08:42:50 AM
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| Thanks for posting. I have fond memories of spending time with Ed. Indeed, he will be missed. |
Andy |
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Pua Kai
Ha`aha`a
USA
1007 Posts |
Posted - 09/08/2010 : 2:50:50 PM
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He left us a beautiful legacy. I hope Helen will remain a part of our ki ho'alu family and wish that I could have been to one of the Celebrations of his life.
Aloha Oe...
nancy |
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jmk
Lokahi
USA
115 Posts |
Posted - 09/08/2010 : 9:39:51 PM
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| Ed was a treasure. He was kind enough to share notes on Norton Buffalo's class when I couldn't be there. He was a fun personality and will be greatly missed. |
Nahenahe |
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Julie H
Ha`aha`a
USA
1206 Posts |
Posted - 09/11/2010 : 9:23:02 PM
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More than his smile, I'll miss that big grin. Got to see it one last time just before the June Maui workshop...
Julie |
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Memorial for Ed Bigelow
