Gene Louis Joseph Beaudoin was happiest when he was making people laugh, entertaining a crowd through his music or spending time with family and friends. Born in Québec City on July 17, 1952, Gene passed away peacefully at his home in Kelowna on October 20, 2025 after living with cancer for eight months.  

Gene grew up in Québec with his brother, Gary. One of his favourite memories was sneaking into the Montréal Forum together to watch NHL games. He later moved to British Columbia, where he met his wife, Margaret. During their 27 years together, they raised their family in Surrey and shared a love of mountain biking. In 2012, they moved to Kelowna to care for Margaret’s parents. Margaret passed away in 2017. 

Gene began playing drums and what started behind the drum kit at Stanstead College became a lifelong love of performing. He kept playing, singing and recording for decades and always enjoyed entertaining a crowd. Gene also encouraged his son, Jayden, to take up the drums, which led him to pursue a career in music. Jayden later graduated from the UBC School of Music with a Bachelor of Music in 2011. In his final years, Gene continued singing and recording with his partner of seven years, Gail. 

Away from music, Gene spent his time mountain biking, riding his motorbike, boating and enjoying winters in Arizona. During his career with PLH Aviation Services at Vancouver International Airport, he met many of his lifelong friends. Later, as a TransLink bus driver, he often shared jokes with his passengers. Whatever he was doing, Gene enjoyed the people around him and usually found a way to make them laugh. 

Gene is deeply missed by Gail, his daughter Allison and her husband Adam, his son Jayden, his grandchildren Annalie and Cedar, his extended family, and the many friends who will remember his jokes, his music and the warmth he brought to their lives. 

To honour his father and the role music played in his life, Gene’s son Jayden established the Gene Beaudoin Memorial Fund at UBC.  

Your gift will pay tribute to Gene’s life by supporting students at the UBC School of Music. It is the family’s wish to raise $50,000 to establish an endowment so his love of music can continue through future generations of musicians. Final decisions about how the fund will support students will be made by UBC in consultation with Gene’s family.