 |
Kevin Patrick Kavanagh
|
Businessman.
Born at Brandon on 27 September 1932, son of Martin Kavanagh and Katherine Power (1897-1954), he joined the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve in 1939 and was involved in sails to Alaska and Hawaii. After graduating from the University of Manitoba with a degree in Commerce (1953), he began working for the Great West Life Assurance Company, rising to becoming President and Chief Executive Officer (1979-1990). He was a member of its Board of Directors until 2009, and also on the Boards for the Conference of Board of Canada, National Leasing Group, and Manitoba Business Council.
In 1963, he married Elisabeth Maria “Els” Mesman (?-2021) and they had two children. He served as the Chancellor of Brandon University (1996-2002) and on the boards of the Banff Centre for Arts and Royal Winnipeg Ballet. In recognition of his community service, he was inducted into the Order of Canada (2002) and Order of Manitoba (2009), and he received the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (2002), Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012), and an honorary doctorate from the University of Manitoba (1990).
He died on 14 June 2020.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 20 June 2020.
Obituary [Elisabeth Maria Kavanagh], Winnipeg Free Press, 20 March 2021.
We thank the Winnipeg Free Press for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 20 March 2021
Memorable Manitobans
This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations.
Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text:
Custom SearchBrowse surnames beginning with:
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | ZBrowse deaths occurring in:
1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024
Send corrections and additions to this page
to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.caCriteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements
Help us keep
history alive!
