EDGAR CHRISTOPHER GAUDOIN OBITUARY

EDGAR CHRISTOPHER GAUDOIN OBITUARY

AKA: SAO HKAM HAN HPA

Edgar passed away at the age of ninety-nine on January 10, 2026. He was born on October 4, 1926, in Kanpetlet, Chin Hills, Burma. His parents were Edgar Thomas David Gaudoin, the governor of a state in British-Burma, and Sao Nang Hseng Oo, a princess in the Shan state of Burma.

Edgar’s adult life started early when he lied about his age at fifteen and enlisted in the British Army Medical Corps. Burma was going through dramatic changes during this period of her history, so Edgar also served in the Indian Army. He was then commissioned into the Burmese Army in 1948. He commanded two Infantry Battalions in combat during the Burmese civil war. Edgar received many awards from the militaries he served in. It is worth noting that he was recommended for several higher awards during his time in the Burmese Army. These awards were not approved due to racial, religious and political discrimination. His service in the British Army was also part of that discrimination.

The most important highlight of his time in the military was when he met Bertha Vera D’Alvis. She was a Lieutenant in the army while he was a private. The joke was that he could never join her at the Officers Club while they were courting. However, love overcame their military ranks, and they were married on October 4, 1943; it was also Edgar’s 17th birthday. Children followed and they were parents of six sons during their time in Burma.

1957 was a turbulent time in Burma, so Edgar and Bertha, along with their six boys, decided to immigrate to the United States. They settled down in Pacific Grove, California. He worked as a teacher at the Army Language School (D.L.I.). It was also during the early years in Pacific Grove that their only daughter was born. It was such a relief after six sons. Life was hard but happy for the young family.

Edgar held citizenship in the three countries of Britain, India and Burma. However, nothing gave him more pride than when he and his family became American citizens on December 12, 1962. He and Bertha had given their children a future in the country he felt was the greatest in the world.

Edgar’s professional life continued at the D.L.I. when he was appointed as one of the first audio-visual specialists in 1964. He was then appointed as the Chief of the Instruction Media Center in 1978. He remained Chief until his retirement in 1987.

Edgar believed in education; he attended night school to attain degrees at Monterey Peninsula College and DeVry’s Technical Institute. He also attended San Jose State and Indiana University.

A man who lives to the age of ninety-nine has many stories and adventures. Edgar was no different: witnessing elephants stampeding during forest fires, walking hundreds of miles from Burma to India, retreating from the Japanese in sampans, hoping they wouldn’t get strafed by enemy planes, and almost dying of malaria at the Chinese border. However, these war stories were softened when talking about his passion for golf and his hole-in-one at the Pacific Grove Golf Links.

His retirement was filled with service to his community. He was president of the Presidio of Monterey Credit Union, president of the Monterey Peninsula Kiwanis Club, a driver for Meals on Wheels for thirty years and a Eucharistic Minister at St. Angela Merici Catholic Church.

Edgar’s life came crashing down when he lost his sweetheart, Bertha, on February 4, 2012, after 68 years of marriage. He was preceded in death by his beloved sons, Michael and Mark.

Edgar is survived by his sons, Keith (Nola), Ed, Tom (Theresa), Pete; daughter Mary (Bret), his daughter-in-law Linda, and his grandchildren Ross, Peter, Christina, Michelle, Flint, Kelli, Dexy, Dana, Rachel, Ryan and Justin — and sixteen great-grandchildren.

The family would like to thank the staff at Seaside Cypress (formerly known as Angelica’s Villa). In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Edgar’s memory to Meals on Wheels or V.N.A Hospice.

Gravesite services will be held at El Carmelo Cemetery on January 22 at 1:00 p.m.