Edward Patrick Vedolla (“Eddie”)

a descendent of Guidiville, passed away on March 22, 2024 at age 84. Eddie was preceded in death by his mother Benedicta “Ruth” Elliott-Vedolla, sister Elenore Vedolla, daughter Patricia Vedolla, and niece Sophia Vedolla. He is survived by his wife Frances Vedolla, sister Beatrice Vedolla (Sam Wilsey), daughters Valerie (George) Frank, Annette Vedolla-Olivarez (Elliott Olivarez), Julie Vedolla-Fuentes (Effie Fuentes), sons Victor (Misty) Knight, son Eddie Vedolla Jr. (Iris Padgett). He is also survived by his grandchildren Monica Vedolla, Jaime Fuentes, Elena (Erick) Guerrero, Ruby Bibancos, Emerald Bibancos, Diamond Bibancos-Knight, Jewel BibancosKnight, Julius Vedolla, Torreya Vedolla, and Azariah Vedolla; and nieces and nephew Ruthi McCoy, Ari-El Treppa, and Alfredo Vedolla.

Eddie was born in Orange, CA on March 17, 1940. He moved to Mendocino County as a child where, with hard work, his mother lifted his family out of hardship and struggle and into resilience and strength. Eddie grew up on what is now the Guidiville Rancheria, and he later played a role in reorganizing and re-establishing the Guidiville Rancheria as a federally recognized tribe with tribal lands.

Eddie worked in sawmills and lumber yards and then for schools liaising among staff, teachers, and families. Eddie received a McAteer Award in 1969 from the Association of California Administrators in Compensatory Education in recognition of his outstanding contribution toward improving educational opportunities for disadvantaged youth.

Eddie was chosen to participate in a new and exclusive program for Indian educators at Humboldt State that became ITEPP (Indian Teacher Education Personnel Program), of which he was part of the first cohort. He graduated with a BA in Psychology from Humboldt State in 1974 and received a Teaching Credential in 1978. Eddie taught school for 23 years. Eddie was fully funded with a Rockefeller Scholarship and received an MA in Education Administration from New Mexico State 1980. He made some of the most meaningful connections of his life with the people of the Acoma Pueblo (“Sky City”) and the Apache Tribe.

Eddie discovered country dancing while traveling for an administrative training in New Mexico. He signed himself and his wife Frances up for a line-dancing class, and dancing quickly became a new family legacy. Eddie and Frances taught Country 2-Step, Country Waltz, West Coast Swing, Polka, and line dances in Ukiah for many years.

After he retired from teaching, Eddie continued to work in administrative roles in local tribes and education. He moved to Weitchpec, CA during the last decade of his life where he started to learn the Yurok language and continued to educate himself by becoming involved in the Karuk and Yurok tribal communities. He enjoyed doing woodwork on his house.

A Celebration of Life and reception will be held on Sunday, April 7, 2024 at 2pm at Coyote Valley Rancheria in the gymnasium – 7701 N. State St., Redwood Valley, CA.