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Cedric MAH Obituary
MAH, Cedric In the early hours of April 29, 2011, passed away at the age of 88, at the Edmonton General Continuing Care Centre. He will be greatly missed by his children, Cheryll Watson and Jonathon Mah; his friends, Paul Tymchuk; Wm. (Washer) Leckeoff, his sisters Lily Yaung, Bernice Leong, brother Alex. Nieces and nephews, Heather, Hilary, Alicia, Arron, Jeannie, Randy, Leanne, Dougie, Cheryl and others. Cedric was a decorated World War II pilot and one of the few remaining members of the China National Aviation Corporation. In 1997 Cedric was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the highest American air award. Together with his brother Captain Albert Mah, they broke the record of hours flying dangerous routes over the Himalayas during WW II. After the war, Cedric continued to pursue his passion as a bush pilot, flying both in the Arctic and on the coast of British Columbia. After retiring, he settled in Edmonton, for the past two decades, has been a committed volunteer at the Alberta Aviation Museum, entertaining many visitors with his animated story telling. A Memorial Service will be held at the Alberta Aviation Museum, 11410 Kingsway Avenue, Edmonton on Friday, May 6th at 3:00 pm. Friends will be given the opportunity to share stories and their memories of Cedric. In lieu of other tributes, donations may be made to the Alberta Aviation Museum. The family wishes to thank the staffs at the Edmonton General for their caring and support throughout this difficult time.
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22 Entries
Gerald Pallay
May 11, 2025
Dear Cheryll and Jonathan:
Condolences to you and the family and friends of your father. So many years later I am developing a project about your father and others. I would like to ask for your insights about his life, beyond what limited detail is available publicly and on memorial sites like this. If you would be open to that, please reach out to me at [email protected]. I´ll be glad to discuss the project with you as well as insights from another family member (Roger L.) who is somewhat familiar as well. Thank you.
Daryl Medd
May 16, 2011
I met Cedric at an auto-body repair shop near Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton in about 1989. One of the places where he sometimes "poked his nose in". I visited with him there several times and could never get enough of his stories. I ran in to him last at the bush pilot's reunion in Yellowknife in about 2003 just after I learned to fly. I'm honored to have known him and always hoped I'd see him again. My condolences to his family. He lived a life to be proud of. I'm just an acquaintance, but an example of the many who admired him.
May 10, 2011
My condolences to Ced's family.
I got to know Ced in the later part of his flying career. Ced was large in spirit and short in stature.
I commented once that God had shorted him on legs, as he climbed into the cockpit of a bush plane.
He commented," I once found a bullet hole in my DC3 fusalage right above my head position, while seated in the left seat....God measured my legs just right!"
God speed my friend....
Jim O'Neil Victoria BC
Pat Mar
May 8, 2011
I really got to know Uncle "Ced" when I moved to Edmonton in 1965. At that time Ced was flying from Edmonton to the northwest in the summers and had the winters off. He would dabble in this and that, and poke his nose all over Edmonton. I was one of the lucky people to be in his company during these years. Ced was a great cook, a generous and well travelled person who came back with stories of his many great adventures.
I have three memorable highlights of my friendship with Uncle Ced that I would like to share. The first was the day his son was born. It was a cold January day in 1972 and I had cooked something special to celebrate but he was so happy insisted on going out instead. My second memory of Ced was how he always there to lend a helping hand. My "payback" moment was May 2000 when he visited Prince Rupert and I paid for his ticket to Vancouver. I commented that I was working and he was no longer doing so which was something he used to say to me years ago when I wasn't working. The last was January 2010 when he phoned to say he was going for an operation but said don't worry, he kept reassuring me he'd be ok and he was looking forward to visiting in May 2010 for Homecoming.
Uncle Ced and I kept in touch for all these years. He was a very special uncle, and he will be missed.
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Heather Mah
May 8, 2011
Dear Cheryll and Jonathan:
My condolences and thoughts are with you both at this time.
One of my earliest memories of Uncle Ced was when he visited after his plane crashed in the Arctic and he was missing for two weeks: a survivor, bright thinker and explorer.
He lived an extraordinary life of adventure with enthusiasm and an open and energetic curiosity.
Having lived so fully - may he now rest peacefully.
with Love, Heather mah
Tennyson Wang
May 6, 2011
My condolences to Ced's family.
Ced and I were a part of Fletcher's team, including Mike Little and Ron Sheardown, with a dream to repeat the Hump Flight in a DC-3. I have joked with Ced: when that hapeens, we will look for the bundles of Chinese currency he kicked out his airplane over the Hump.
Besides the disappointment that our Hump Flight will never be made, my heartfelt saddness that I lost a friend whom I have never met.
With sympathy, from
Tennyson Wang,
Who grew up in Kunming When Ced wss Flying the Hump
ramona mar
May 6, 2011
Our sincere condolences to all of Ced's family. Ced and our father, Hong Mar, were bush pilot buddies and we have profound respect for their flying adventures. I was also very fortunate to interview Ced about his war time flying experience for the the Heroes Remember Project. Ced's interview is online at http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/sub.cfm?source=collections/hr_cdnchinese/profile&u=mahc
He truly was one of a kind and will be missed and remembered by many.
With sympathy from Vancouver,
Ramona, Diane and Carolyn Mar
Wayne Ralph
May 6, 2011
I had the good fortune to meet Cedric during the writing of my book on Second World War fighter pilots. He was, to me, a gentle and learned man. He was always happy to answer my questions and speculate about aviation history. I had known of him as a legendary figure when I was flying in Alberta in the 1970s, but got to meet for the first time only in 2003. Through Cedric I was able to interview Alex and Albert during their visit to White Rock, BC. Cedric was always willing to help and encourage me, and I will miss having those encounters in the future.
Much sympathy,
Wayne Ralph, author
White Rock, BC
Mike Little
May 6, 2011
Ced was an amazing character, his flying years the stuff of adventure fiction. My deepest sympathy to his family. He will be missed.
kathryn berry
May 5, 2011
Cheryll...my very best friend my thoughts are with you in this terribly tough time...know that you are an inspiration to me in the things that you do
love kathryn
May 5, 2011
the very very deepest sympathy !!!!! to Uncle Cedric's family in edmonton, johnathan, cheryll ... pancho,too
From cousin Ron Chan-Lee in Toronto and James chan-Lee in Paris France
Leong Mah
May 5, 2011
May 5th
To Cheryll and Jonny, Ced was special as an Uncle. I knew him best 1951-1963 when I was a teenager and worked with him and Dad (Alex) at the Playdium Recreation. During the summers he would take me flying in his "Beaver" bush seaplane. He loved the outdoors, prospectors, fishing/hunting on the B.C.coast and Yukon. I have many of his articles from the Hump. Will miss his special character. Nephew, Leong Mah
Leslie Bojarski
May 5, 2011
Sorry to hear of Mr. Mah's passing. Leslie Bojarski (daughter of Capt. Joe Hardin)
Ced with village children in Yunnanyi near the "Burma Road" 2007
Susan Yu
May 5, 2011
My heartfelt sympathies to Ced's family.I had the privilege of meeting Ced when he travelled to Western China in 2007. He had so many colourful stories to tell of his time there and his adventures flying in Canada after CNAC. A very special and inspirational person who spoke so very proudly of his family and the Mah heritage.
May 4, 2011
Another one of the good guys who was a pleasure to be with
Camille and Bill Gilger
Katie O'Neil
May 4, 2011
I met Ced when I was about 7. He took my father and I to a flying museum and I will never forget the wonderful time we spent with Ced.
May 4, 2011
I had hope to meet him at the reunion this Sept. He was inspiratioin. Maggie Williams, Daughter of Capt. John Hicks
May 4, 2011
It is sad to hear the passing of Ced, he will be missed by many.
I had the pleasure of knowing him in Yellowknife and around Edmonton.
Richard McPherson, Bissett, Mb
doug maupin
May 4, 2011
I't always sad to see another hero of that group pass
The Maupin Families best wishes
are with you Doug Maupin
(son) of Capt Jim Maupin CNAC
Tom Moore
May 4, 2011
My condolences to Ced's family. I will miss Ced at the reunions for the China National Aviation Corporation (CNAC). Some of you may wish to see pictures of Ced during his time with CNAC: http://www.cnac.org/cedmah01.htm
Take care of each other.
Jack Bergeron
May 4, 2011
It is sad to hear that Ced has passed. I am sure that like myself there are many that knew and admired Ced as he made his mark as a Bush Pilot in the north. He truly was one of the pioner Bush Pilots of the West.
Valerie Parish Kendrick
May 3, 2011
Ced touched so many lives in so many special ways including mine. His character lit up a room. His smile...oh so precious !!! Admired by many,loved by all who knew him...he had a life he could hang his hat on.
So long my friend....I know you are flying just beyond the crest,your plane glistening in God's Holy Light.
Please know I hold you and your family in my thoughts and prayers. Those who winged beside you and their familes will never forget
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