Eric Dumigan
Celebration of Life

Story and photos by Gord McNulty,
CAHS Vice President
posted October 2023
A display in tribute to Eric’s family.
Vintage shot of Eric with the Snowbirds.
Family and friends of renowned Canadian aviation photographer Eric Dumigan gathered at Tillsonburg, Ontario Regional Airport on 23 September, to celebrate his life as he would have wanted.
Stearman PT-17  C-FBBS, flown by Dylan Hewitt at the Celebration.
Viking Air DHC-2 Beaver C-FPSM at the Celebration of Life for Eric.
An exceptional turnout of people and aircraft spoke volumes about the esteem in which Eric was held throughout the aviation fraternity.  The event was hosted by the Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association in their hangar.

Bernadette speaks warmly of Eric at the Celebration of Life.
Bernadette LaBarre Dumigan expressed heartfelt thanks to everyone for their attendance and donations to a GoFundMe campaign after Eric died unexpectedly on 25 September 2021. In an emotional and touching moment, Bernadette said she would “rather have a short life with Eric than a long life.”

Speakers included longtime friend Rich Kolassa from New Jersey and Naomi Wadsworth of the National Warplane Museum in Geneseo, NY, among others.  In fact, Rich recalled he first met Eric at the Geneseo air show in 1998 and they would see each other at events four to six times every year.

Family members said they would miss Eric’s laughter and his mischievous smile.  As they said, he was always in a good mood and invariably had a story or two. 
Bernadette (left next to the cockpit of the Harvard) joined by friends at the celebration.
A P-51 Mustang in RCAF colours departs Tillsonburg after the Eric Dumigan Celebration of Life.
The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum brought the museum’s B-25 Mitchell. Hannu Halminen brought his striking P-51 Mustang in the postwar colours of RCAF 424 Squadron.  Alf Beam in his T-28 Trojan and a Viking Air DHC-2 Beaver also highlighted an array of visiting aircraft.
Well-known air show pilots attended as well as members of the Guelph, Ontario Tiger Boys; the Jet Aircraft Museum in London, Ontario; the Canadian Aviation Historical Society; the EAA Chapter 65 Golden Horseshoe; and more.  
Fleet Finch C-FDAF,  flown by Cam Harrod of the Tiger Boys.
Six Harvards flew the missing man formation in honour of Eric at the Celebration of Life.
Six Harvards flew a missing man formation in a fitting tribute to Eric, remembered by Rich as “not only a great photographer but a great human being.” Eric may be gone, but his inspiring legacy will live on.
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