Huntington Beach’s ‘Drone Eddie’ dies at 60
Edward Paige, a Huntington Beach resident and drone enthusiast renowned for his aerial photos and videos, has died.
“Drone Eddie,” as he was commonly known, died Sunday of heart complications while at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach. He was 60.
The 36-year Surf City resident’s friends family called him kind, helpful and passionate, particularly when it came unmanned aerial vehicles. Paige’s advocacy led him to challenge City Hall and cite federal laws when local officials tried to regulate his devices, whose footage he often posted on social media.
“Eddie was an advocate for drones, and it was a passion of his,” said Huntington Beach Police Chief Robert Handy. “He was on the forefront of that in Huntington Beach, and we talked a lot and worked together as the technology evolved. He certainly was very knowledgeable and passionate about not only the technology, but also the rules that overlapped.”
Paige, who worked in marketing, was a responsible drone user, his family members said. Just before he died, in his “Don’t Be the One” campaign, he encouraged people not to use drones during the weekend’s Breitling Huntington Beach Airshow, where they are prohibited.
Mayor Jim Katapodis said Paige never interfered with police helicopters while using his drones.
Paige’s wife of 25 years, Jennifer, said her husband picked up the hobby about four years ago. He was self-taught and had no prior photography experience.
Paige was always amazed when someone would return a lost drone to him, she said, and he always helped anyone interested in getting into the hobby.
He also would donate many of his photos to charitable causes, such as the Children’s Hospital of Orange County.
Roy McDowell, one of Paige’s three stepsons, described him as “thoughtful, giving, stubborn, very business-savvy and smart.”
Another stepson, Tim McDowell, enlisted in the Navy after being inspired by his stepfather, who served for six years and earned two Purple Hearts.
Moe Kanoudi, Paige’s friend of more than two decades and owner of Main Street Eyewear in downtown Huntington Beach, said his friend quickly became popular in the city.
“It shows what a nice guy he was [and] how fast he got into everybody’s hearts in this little town,” Kanoudi said.
In addition to his wife and three stepsons, Paige is survived by one grandchild.
A candlelight vigil is planned for Sunday at the Huntington Beach Pier from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. to commemorate Paige. Funeral services have not yet been planned, his family said.
Twitter: @BrittanyWoolsey
