COGSWELL, Dr. Eric Eidson

March 17th, 1938 - February 19th, 2024

Passed peacefully with his family by his side at Joseph Brant Hospital on Monday, February 19, 2024 at the age of 85.

Beloved husband of Patricia (nee Kelly) Cogswell for over 56 years; loving father of Carolyn Cogswell Pigeau, David Cogswell and Stephanie (David Lacey) Cogswell; proud grandfather of Grace, Clark, Jacob, Meredith, Calvin and Miles; dear brother of Dr. David (late Heide) Cogswell, Elizabeth (Graham) Pineo, Mary (late Denton) Graham, Oliver Cogswell and Suzanne (Bernie) Cogswell; and son of (late) Dr. Laverne and (late) Kathleen Cogswell of Berwick, Nova Scotia. Eric grew up in the Annapolis Valley and graduated from Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine, proudly following in the footsteps of his father to become a physician. He began his residency in Toronto where he met the love of his life, Patricia, who was a nurse at the time.

Immediately noticing her nurse’s cap was from Newfoundland and as a fellow ‘East-Coaster’ himself, they had an immediate bond. And so their love story began, initially living in Newfoundland and then moving to Burlington, Ontario to begin his career and to raise their family. To know Eric was to know two very important things: Eric loved his family and he loved being a physician. He dedicated his lifework to being a doctor and caring for those around him. He worked tirelessly (yet happily) as a physician of Internal Medicine at Joseph Brant Hospital and his own practice in downtown Burlington for over 30 years. Once retired, he continued to follow his passions of stamp collecting, sailing, swimming, choir, meeting friends, doing crosswords, gardening, taking long walks with Patricia, and spending time with family (near and far).

He was so proud of teaching his grandchildren to swim in their pool. Eric was passionate about history and loved to share stories about his adventures growing up and his family ancestry. He was an avid adventurer at heart. He backpacked across Europe, loved to ski, windsurf, and even sailed the seas of Greece in a flotilla with Patricia as his first mate. Always the professional, forever a gentleman, never one to say an unkind word to anyone, nor to complain, and always one to offer help or sage advice. To know Eric, either professionally or personally, was to know that he always put the needs of others before himself. He was truly one of a kind and he made the world a better place by being in it. He will be dearly missed by all that loved and knew him.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the staff at Joseph Brant Hospital for their care.

Visitation will take place at SMITH'S FUNERAL HOME, 1167 Guelph Line (one stop light north of QEW), BURLINGTON (905-632-3333) on Monday, March 4th from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Funeral Service will be held at SMITH'S FUNERAL HOME Chapel, 1167 Guelph Line, on Tuesday, March 5th at 10:00 a.m. Reception to follow. Interment to take place at a later date.

For those who wish, donations in Eric’s honour to Joseph Brant Hospital or the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada would be sincerely appreciated by the family.