Edgar Wilfrid Racine

Edgar Wilfrid Racine
June 15, 1933 ~ June 25, 2021

Edgar (Ed) Wilfrid Racine passed away peacefully at the age of 88 on Friday, June 25, surrounded by his loving family at his home in San Diego, California.

Ed was born on June 15, 1933, in Casselman, Ontario, Canada, to Alderic and Blanche Racine. He spent his formative years in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada, and later moved with his family to their farm in Vermont at age 13 where he quickly learned the English language. At age 14, he studied at Juvenat of the Sacred Heart, a Catholic boarding school in Summerstown, Ontario, Canada. Ed joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1952 and was stationed at Parris Island, South Carolina, where he earned his nickname, Rocky. When transferred to Quantico, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant.

Ed drove to San Diego in 1954 after his two-year term in the Marine Corps where he set out on a new path in life. Not too long after he arrived, he met the love of his life, Elein Kramer, at a Harry James dance at the Trianon Ballroom and they’ve been dancing ever since. Ed and Elein married at the Saint Francis Chapel in Balboa Park in 1957 where they began their new and adventurous life together while raising their four children along the way. Ed was a resident of San Diego for 67 years, fully embracing the San Diego lifestyle.

After arriving in San Diego, Ed acquired his lifelong enjoyment of cooking from working at the U. S. Grant and waiting tables at the Saddlerock Grill and Bali Hai restaurants. Ed moved on to his employment at Ryan Aeronautical, then pursued a career in the automobile industry beginning at Martin-Carter Chrysler Plymouth in sales and then promoted to general manager. He later became the co-owner of Parks Motors and then owner of E. R. Enterprise, two successful automobile businesses, retiring after 36 years in the industry.

Ed was an avid racquetball player and original member, a true “old timer,” of the Atlas Health Club, and later played tennis for a number of years at Morley Field. He was also a member of the Elks Lodge where he and Elein showed off their dancing skills. Ed served as Sheriff of the Wranglers square-dance club and Wagon Master of the Huggy Bunch RV camping group enjoying four-wheeling in the desert, camping, square-dancing, and clogging. He also thoroughly enjoyed travelling around the country in his motorhome. Other activities that brightened up his days included rollerblading, bicycling, kayaking on Lake Murray, playing cards and dominoes, and planting countless succulents. He took great joy in trips to Tahiti, Hawaii, and Europe, and numerous vacations, including Canada, Vermont, Florida, and Las Vegas, where he enjoyed quality time with family. He especially enjoyed his backyard and pool, also known as Club Ed, where he spent hours teaching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren how to swim and dive. Ed truly appreciated celebrations with friends and family. Most of all, he cherished spending time with family.

Ed is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Elein; children, Michelle (Manolo) Arboleya of Rockford, Illinois, Charles (Tory) Racine of San Diego, Lisa Racine (Dennis Heekin) of Monterey, and Terri Racine-Stolberg of San Diego; 11 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren; sister, Eva (the late Joseph) Aubertin of Sturgeon Falls, Ontario, Canada, and brother, Robert (Claudette) Racine of Cornwall, Ontario, Canada; and numerous nieces and nephews. Ed was preceded in death by grandson Justin Nilson; sister, Laurette (Alphonse) Sauve and brothers, Albert (Lucienne) Racine, Fernand (Patricia) Racine, Emile (Doris) Racine and Yvon Racine (Monique R.-Lalonde).

Ed leaves a legacy of having touched the lives of many people. He will be “Forever In Our Hearts.”

A memorial service will be held Monday, August 2, 1:00 p.m., at Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala, 10818 San Diego Mission Road, San Diego, CA 92108.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Ed’s name to “St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital” through the organization’s website at stjude.org.

The family wishes to acknowledge with gratefulness each act of kindness and every expression of sympathy shown during their time of sorrow.