Eldon Godfrey, longtime leader, volunteer, and pillar of the Canadian diving community, died on September 26 at the age of 91. Godfrey lived a life of service and will be mourned heavily throughout the aquatic community.
Godfrey worked as an accountant in Calgary, Alberta, and volunteered with various organizations, including Boy Scouts of Canada and the British North America Philatelic Society. But his commitment to diving is what set him apart—originally introduced into the diving community through his daughter, Allison, who was a competitive diver.
Within three years of his volunteering start with diving, Godfrey was already elected president of the Canadian Amateur Diving Association. He later went on to serve on the FINA Technical Diving Committee and was elected as the Honorary Secretary and Vice Chairman for 16 years. He was also elected a member of the FINA Bureau for 13 years. His role as liaison to the Technical Diving Committee was responsible for many policies and decisions in relation to the operations of FINA. Godfrey is now a FINA Honorary Life Member.
On a global stage, Godfrey worked at four Olympic Games, four World Championships, eight World Cups, three Pan American Games and other international events. His additional awards for his work include the FINA Gold Pin, Canadian Sports Award, Alberta Achievement Award and the Calgary Booster Club Award.
With his extensive volunteerism, Godfrey received the Calgary Booster Club Sportsman of the Year in 2000, as well as being inducted into three halls of fame: Alberta Sports Hall of Fame (2007), the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame (2003), and the International Swimming Hall of Fame (2012).
He was later recognized with the appointment as an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2019. His work “served and promoted Canadian sporting interests and values on the world stage with dedication and integrity… as an exceptional role model and generous volunteer.”
He credits much of his volunteer efforts as joint with his wife, Carlie Jean. “Anything I have ever done that has been deemed worthy of recognition was as much Carlie-Jean’s work as mine,” said Godfrey.
For their work in diving with over 40 years of service, Godfrey and Carlie Jean received Canada’s Irene MacDonald Award for Volunteerism to Diving, for over 40 years of service.
A Celebration of Eldon’s Life will be held at Summit View United Church, 3303 Capitol Hill Crescent NW, Calgary, AB, on Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. The service will be livestreamed here.
