19 July 1958 – 19 November 2024
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Edwin (Coach Ed) Bakker, of Victoria, BC, leaving behind a legacy of dedication, passion, and creativity.
Born in The Hague, The Netherlands, Ed was the beloved son of Herman Frederick Paul Bakker and Johanna Elisabeth Bakker. He is survived by his brother Ray, sister Yvonne, niece Ashleigh and nephews Brendan, Curtis and Cameron who will cherish his memory.
A true visionary in the world of tennis, Ed dedicated much of his life to making the sport accessible to all, especially to young people. He was an integral part of the tennis community in Victoria as the longest serving tennis coach and coordinator at Oak Bay Recreation. His passion for the game was matched by his deep commitment to impacting his students’ lives both on and off the court.
As a Tennis Canada Coach 3 instructor, Ed was very dedicated and disciplined in his own tennis development. He competed, and ranked, regularly in local and national tournaments and proudly represented Canada at the World Tennis Championships in Australia, showcasing both his skill and love for the sport and his country.
He was the creative force behind Wild Tennis, a unique program that connected kids with nature and tennis tactics. Through this program he not only taught tennis fundamentals but also fostered a love of the outdoors and encouraged personal growth. His work extended beyond coaching, as he made a positive and lasting impact on generations of people.
Ed’s legacy will live on in the hearts of all those whose lives he touched, and his memory will continue to inspire those who shared his passion for tennis, nature, and community.
We are so proud of you and miss you dearly, Ed. Love always, your many colleagues, friends and family! 😊❤️🙏
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Jr, Bro2, Y2, Yum2, EGPB, Junior, Edwin – Ed,
You are the best brother a brother can have. You are the best friend a friend can have.
I will forever remember the many, many great times we had, playing the Senior Tennis Masters, golf, the Scrabble and Yahtzee challenges, card games, the phenomenal tennis, squash and racquetball matches we sweated out. I cherished the endless consequential discussions we engaged in over life, women, relationships, dancing, investments, business ideas, our inventions, my businesses, yours—Wild Tennis—and the jokes and stories we told, the bantering back and forth, making pannenkoeken, and the true belly laughs we had, often till we cried. You are so intelligent. You are truly amazing. You cared. You called. You wrote. You wore your heart on your sleeve. And I appreciated every second of every minute we had together. I miss you.
Peace be with you, my truest, and dearest friend! It is an honour, and my privilege, to be your big brother. Till we will rematch on centre court. 🙂
With all my adoration and heartfelt love.
Sr, Bro1, Y1, Yum1, CWRB, Eldest, Reinoud – Ray. ❤️
Hey Ed,
I miss you dearly and I will miss those in deepth converstaions; whether it be over life in general, politics and/or our chapters of growing up.
You are also dearly missed by Curtis and Ashleigh! You always took the time to drop in when you were in town, or have them at tennis camp in Oak Bay each year.
You were a great son, even though you felt a bit differently. You spent time visiting with our mother every week: doing her shopping for when she was no longer able to do so herself, or just taking her for a day trip here and there, as well as to Dr. appts.. Kudos to you for being in her company, even though you didn’t relish her smoking.
Your love for birds was immense, your love for tennis was immeasurable. Whether that be in the form of teaching, encouraging or spending 10 years perfecting the combination of them both to form ‘Wild Tennis’ for young children/kids.
It’s so sad that you are no longer here, but I sort of understand that you couldn’t stay any longer here on earth. RIP Ed. Love you!
I’m so sorry to hear of Ed’s passing. We worked together for many years at Oak Bay and we were also neighbours in an apartment building. Ed was always kind and courteous, and quick with a smile. He will be missed.
I and many people in the tennis community are deeply saddened by Ed’s passing. I played many times with and against Ed, he was such a great player, and later joined him as a coach at Oak Bay. His wild tennis program was unique and great fun for the kids learning to play. He is a legend in Victoria tennis and beyond, and will be sorely missed. My sincere condolences to the family.
We are deeply saddened by the passing of Ed. Over the many years I had the privilege of working alongside him as a coach, I was always in awe of his knowledge, his love for tennis, and his unmatched passion for coaching.
Ed’s dedication to the sport and to the children he taught was truly inspirational. He approached every lesson with care and precision, crafting plans that not only developed strong tennis fundamentals but also wove in beautiful connections to nature. His sequential approach to teaching honored both the sport and the kids, creating steppingstones that made every skill and tactic accessible and meaningful.
Beyond his skill as a coach, Ed’s talent as a tennis player was something I deeply admired. He was a true champion of the sport in every sense, always giving back to the community and inspiring others to love and respect tennis as he did.
Our whole family, Don, Olivia, Katarina, and I, will miss him dearly. We send our heartfelt condolences to his family. May you find comfort in knowing the lasting impact Ed made on so many lives, including ours.
Hi Robyn,
This is Ed’s sister, Yvonne. Thank you so much for your articulate posting! I believe that I’ve seen you over the years at Oak Bay with any one of my two children. I sure hope that you will be able to join in on our SOL on March. 22/25!? Warmest regards!
I am heartbroken at the loss of a dear friend, doubles partner and fellow tennis coach and enthusiast of many years. I will miss our regular conversations about life, politics, tennis, and analysis during the majors about the players participating at the highest level. Ed was a caring, compassionate person and loved the game. Both Shona and I offer our deepest sympathies to Yvonne and Ray and the rest of the family.