Obituary for Edward Anthony Dietrich
DIETRICH, Edward Anthony (Feb 23, 1943 – Mar 29, 2020) age 77, passed away peacefully in
Calgary, Alberta Canada on March 29, 2020 at Foothills Hospital after a courageous three-year
battle with multiple myeloma.
Ed or ‘Tony’ as his close friends called him, was born Feb 23, 1943 in Kingston Jamaica. He grew
up in Johns Lane in Kingston and in his early years was raised by his grandmother, Doris Maduro
and grand aunt, Miriam Maduro. As a teenager, he attended St. George’s College for boys in
Jamaica. Ed received a scholarship in 1962 to study civil engineering in Trinidad at the
University of the West Indies where he played on the varsity soccer team. In 1965 while at
U.W.I, Ed met his future wife Zulie Jahoor, Trinidad’s 1966 Carnival Queen. They married in
Trinidad in 1966. After university, Ed and Zulie moved to Jamaica and started a family. Ed began
his career at Jamaica Public Works as a civil engineer.
In 1978, Ed and Zulie moved their young family to Calgary, Alberta Canada in pursuit of better
opportunities. Ed worked at Fluor Daniel, a global engineering firm, for over 25 years with brief
stints in Fort McMurray, Alberta and Kingston, Ontario. He received his Master’s in Engineering
from the University of Calgary in 1987. He was an accredited professional engineer in Canada,
the USA and the UK. Over his career he travelled to Eastern Canada, California, Texas, Alaska,
Russia, India and England on work assignments.
Family was important to Ed and he worked tirelessly to provide stability and opportunities for
those around him. He always made the effort to help those he loved and cared about, giving
whatever he could when he could. Ed is survived by his wife of 54 years, Zulie Dietrich; four
children, Mark Dietrich, Pier Dietrich, John Dietrich (Gigi) and Nicole (David) Dietrich; four
grand-children, Miriam Dunlop (Christopher), Ben Dietrich, Ayrton Dietrich-Schimnosky,
Ettianne Dietrich-Schimnosky; and his great-grand-daughter Mabel. He is also survived by his
siblings, Christopher Callen, Rocky Callen, Peter Callen, Michael Callen, Roxanne Callen, Joe Blair
and cousin Kingsley Johnson. Ed is pre-deceased by his grandmother, Doris Maduro; grand-aunt,
Miriam Maduro; mother, Gloria Callen; grand-daughter, Ivy Elizabeth Dietrich-Schimnosky; close
friend and mentor Professor Stanley Collins and beloved Jersey.
Ed had a passion for mathematics, physics and soccer. He was fond of animals and generously
donated to several charities. He often stressed the importance of giving to those less fortunate.
The family would like to thank all of his doctors, nurses and the staff at the Tom Baker Cancer
Centre and Foothills hospital who cared for Ed with kindness and compassion. A special thank
you to his dedicated caregivers: Joe, Nyanget and Jacque.
A memorial to honour his memory will be held at a later date in Calgary. If friends so desire,
donations can be made in memory of Ed to the Tom Baker Cancer Centre . To donate by phone: (780) 432-8500
Dear Dad,
This letter is to say thank you for the generous time you made for us and all that you did for us.
Thank you for the songs you sang for us on your guitar, the fun at the beaches in Jamaica and
the Rockies in Alberta.
Thank you for the time spent with the grandchildren and great-grandchild and vacations spent
with Mom.
Thank you so very much for your years of hard work at Fluor Daniel so that we were always
provided for.
Thank you for all the hugs, patience and encouragement whenever the road was steep.
Thank you for teaching us the importance of doing what we love and doing it to the best of our
ability.
Thank you for the knowledge and help that paved our way to independence and lives well lived.
Thank you so very much for making all of us the centre of your universe. It was always
appreciated. Till next we meet Dad.
Love you forever, from your wife, Zulie, your kids; Mark, Pier, John, and Nicole; your great
grandkids; Miriam, Ben, Ayrton and Ettianne; your great grand-daughter Mabel; and your
loving and faithful pup, Soleil.
We will miss you, may you rest in peace.
To view and share photos, condolences and stories of Edward please visit www.choicememorial.com. Arrangements entrusted to the care of Choice Memorial Cremation & Funeral Services (403) 277-7343.
Calgary, Alberta Canada on March 29, 2020 at Foothills Hospital after a courageous three-year
battle with multiple myeloma.
Ed or ‘Tony’ as his close friends called him, was born Feb 23, 1943 in Kingston Jamaica. He grew
up in Johns Lane in Kingston and in his early years was raised by his grandmother, Doris Maduro
and grand aunt, Miriam Maduro. As a teenager, he attended St. George’s College for boys in
Jamaica. Ed received a scholarship in 1962 to study civil engineering in Trinidad at the
University of the West Indies where he played on the varsity soccer team. In 1965 while at
U.W.I, Ed met his future wife Zulie Jahoor, Trinidad’s 1966 Carnival Queen. They married in
Trinidad in 1966. After university, Ed and Zulie moved to Jamaica and started a family. Ed began
his career at Jamaica Public Works as a civil engineer.
In 1978, Ed and Zulie moved their young family to Calgary, Alberta Canada in pursuit of better
opportunities. Ed worked at Fluor Daniel, a global engineering firm, for over 25 years with brief
stints in Fort McMurray, Alberta and Kingston, Ontario. He received his Master’s in Engineering
from the University of Calgary in 1987. He was an accredited professional engineer in Canada,
the USA and the UK. Over his career he travelled to Eastern Canada, California, Texas, Alaska,
Russia, India and England on work assignments.
Family was important to Ed and he worked tirelessly to provide stability and opportunities for
those around him. He always made the effort to help those he loved and cared about, giving
whatever he could when he could. Ed is survived by his wife of 54 years, Zulie Dietrich; four
children, Mark Dietrich, Pier Dietrich, John Dietrich (Gigi) and Nicole (David) Dietrich; four
grand-children, Miriam Dunlop (Christopher), Ben Dietrich, Ayrton Dietrich-Schimnosky,
Ettianne Dietrich-Schimnosky; and his great-grand-daughter Mabel. He is also survived by his
siblings, Christopher Callen, Rocky Callen, Peter Callen, Michael Callen, Roxanne Callen, Joe Blair
and cousin Kingsley Johnson. Ed is pre-deceased by his grandmother, Doris Maduro; grand-aunt,
Miriam Maduro; mother, Gloria Callen; grand-daughter, Ivy Elizabeth Dietrich-Schimnosky; close
friend and mentor Professor Stanley Collins and beloved Jersey.
Ed had a passion for mathematics, physics and soccer. He was fond of animals and generously
donated to several charities. He often stressed the importance of giving to those less fortunate.
The family would like to thank all of his doctors, nurses and the staff at the Tom Baker Cancer
Centre and Foothills hospital who cared for Ed with kindness and compassion. A special thank
you to his dedicated caregivers: Joe, Nyanget and Jacque.
A memorial to honour his memory will be held at a later date in Calgary. If friends so desire,
donations can be made in memory of Ed to the Tom Baker Cancer Centre . To donate by phone: (780) 432-8500
Dear Dad,
This letter is to say thank you for the generous time you made for us and all that you did for us.
Thank you for the songs you sang for us on your guitar, the fun at the beaches in Jamaica and
the Rockies in Alberta.
Thank you for the time spent with the grandchildren and great-grandchild and vacations spent
with Mom.
Thank you so very much for your years of hard work at Fluor Daniel so that we were always
provided for.
Thank you for all the hugs, patience and encouragement whenever the road was steep.
Thank you for teaching us the importance of doing what we love and doing it to the best of our
ability.
Thank you for the knowledge and help that paved our way to independence and lives well lived.
Thank you so very much for making all of us the centre of your universe. It was always
appreciated. Till next we meet Dad.
Love you forever, from your wife, Zulie, your kids; Mark, Pier, John, and Nicole; your great
grandkids; Miriam, Ben, Ayrton and Ettianne; your great grand-daughter Mabel; and your
loving and faithful pup, Soleil.
We will miss you, may you rest in peace.
To view and share photos, condolences and stories of Edward please visit www.choicememorial.com. Arrangements entrusted to the care of Choice Memorial Cremation & Funeral Services (403) 277-7343.