With dignity and grace he eased away gently, just one more sunset before his 90th birthday.
Missed now by Joan, wife and true heart of 62 years, sons and daughters, Peter, Tim, Liz, Kevin, Anne and Kate, and those special to them; grandchildren, Jason, Kimmy, Kayla, Ryan, Arpad, Kyra, Marton, Aron, Leila, Grace, Gergely, Adam, Kristof and Oskar and those special to them; great grandson, Cedric; brother, Joe and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends accumulated in a life of making people smile.
Born and raised in Bancroft, he left to study at Queen's University in Kingston. He began teaching in a one room schoolhouse in 1954 on a rural road in Hastings County. In 1956, imagination and a steamship carried him to France where he taught for 2 years and became fluent in French. Returning to Canada, he found the love of his life in Joan, and a teaching job in Ottawa. Together, they built a family of six children. His teaching took him from Eastview High School to Brookfield High School and finally to Ottawa Technical High School, where he mentored colleagues and inspired generations of students.
He loved "villainous company", generously tipped scores of bartenders, regaled all with entertaining stories and verse, and never missed a Friday night bouquet of roses for his one love Joan. He also found time to put "The Bancroft Prolative" on the map, to co-found and keep vibrant The James Joyce Society, to advocate for the "Re-Masculation of the Lion" on Parliament Hill, and to make an annual pilgrimage to Ireland where he became a beloved fixture at Grogan's Pub in Dublin.
He went at and breathed his last. We'll take at and keep him dear until we breathe our last own.
Paul would love and appreciate any donation to the Shepherds of Good Hope, 256 King Edward Avenue, so his support for them will continue.
Family and Friends are invited to visit at Beechwood National Memorial Centre, 280 Beechwood Ave. Ottawa, ON, on Friday, December 2nd from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. A Funeral Service will take place Saturday, December 3rd at Annunciation Of The Lord, 2414 Ogilvie Rd, Gloucester, ON at 11 a.m.
Digital Guestbook
Jim Curley
Renato Rizzuti
I first knew Paul as Mr. Kavanagh because he was my fantastic English teacher in Grade 13 at Ottawa Technical High School. I contacted him quite a few years later because I wanted to dedicate my book of poetry to him. We became friends and he jokingly told me I could call him Paul because I was old enough to vote!
Paul was undoubtedly the “coolest” teacher at Tech. I became a high school English and Drama teacher because Paul inspired me. I also became an actor because of Paul’s vibrant and wonderful reading of Irish plays in English class.
Paul was a truly brilliant man who loved literature and had an extensive knowledge and an extensive sense of humour. Right up to his final days he encouraged me with creative writing evaluation and coaching.
Paul inspired me all along and I have the portrait of him that he had his daughter Anne send to me and as Anne said, “portrait of him done by a wonderful Dublin artist named Liam Delaney, about 9 years ago ... It captures him beautifully” I have it in my creative work space.
Paul continues to inspire me now and forever!
Rest in peace.
Well what a fine gentleman! A true pleasure to have a beer and chat with Paul.
he will be sorely missed by many people he presence has touched! my condolences to his family.