March 3, 1937 - June 4, 2014: It is with profound sadness that we share news of the passing of Edythe Goodridge on Wednesday, June 4th, 2014. Edythe passed away at Victoria General Hospital in Halifax, NS. She spent her last days surrounded by her family and had a peaceful passing after a brief but courageous battle with Cancer and Alzheimer's. A proud and passionate Newfoundlander, Edythe was a cultural force in Newfoundland and Canada. Orator Shane O-Dea is quoted as saying "The New Newfoundland has both a father and a mother; Our father: Joe Smallwood who made us a province, who made us Canadians. And our mother: Edythe Goodridge who made us a people, who remade us as Newfoundlanders." In 1968, Edythe joined Memorial's Extension Community Development Division and she had sat on the National Capital Commission in 1972, raising the profile of the province in that capacity. She also helmed the Memorial University Art Gallery in 1974, and would go on to run the Visual Arts section of Canada Council. Edythe was also one of the individuals that worked to establish the Winterset in the Summer Festival, which continues to take place in Eastport, NL. She was the first executive director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council upon its founding in 1980. She invested her energy and drive in her work with the Association of Cultural Industries, the Heritage Association, the Canadian Radio and Television Commission, the Canadian Conference of the Arts, and the Canadian Art Museum Directors Organization. Edythe was also co-founder and president of the Newfoundland Historic Trust. She was inducted into the NLAC's Arts Hall of Honour in 1990 and also received an honorary Doctorate of Laws from Memorial University in 1998. In the last years Edythe has been sitting on the Rural Secretariat of Newfoundland for her region of Gander - New Wes Valley. As well as on the Town Council of Salvage and the committee to revitalize The Salvage, Fishermen's museum. Edythe leaves behind her two children, John (Toni) Goodridge of St. Margarets Bay, and Elizabeth Goodridge of Halifax, 3 grandchildren Ryan and Avalon Adams and Isabella Goodridge. She is survived by her sister Mary(Ed) Becker Guziak of Hurley, New York, and brother William Roger (Alice) Ryan, of St. Augustine Florida, nieces, nephews and countless friends and associates. A memorial and celebration of Edythe's life will take place in Newfoundland during the 1st week of July. Details of which are still forthcoming.