Kenneth MacDougal GIRVAN

GIRVAN, Kenneth MacDougal
KENNETH MacDOUGAL GIRVAN Kenneth died November 17, 2007 at age 86 at Brentwood Bay, BC. He was predeceased by his loving wife of 42 years Jean Emily Callister on April 18, 1991, as well as by his later life partner Louise Lang of Duncan, BC. His loss is mourned by two daughters and a grandson, Jane Girvan of Golden, BC, and Martha Meers and her son Mitchell Meers of Georgetown, ON. At age four Ken suffered a severe infection of the middle ear which left him deaf in one ear and partially impaired in the other. Ken enlisted in the army in 1942 and was commissioned as an Infantry Lieutenant early in 1943 at Camp Borden, ON. During battle training in Southern England, the continued cold wet conditions aggravated his chronic middle ear leaving him temporarily deaf. As a result he was reassigned to Barriefield, ON, as an infantry instructor for the duration. Ken was a member of the Toronto Argonauts Rowing 8's before and after the war. In June 1945 Ken joined the Canadian publishing firm of Random House as a sales representative for ON. Over the years, Ken represented McGraw-Hill, Clarke Irwin, and Fitzhenry & Whiteside, being with the latter firm for 18 years. Ken was well suited to his employment and felt it was an occupation to be envied. Ken and Jean lived on a small rural acreage near Georgetown, ON during most of his working years. After his retirement in 1985 they moved to Gorden Head, BC, an area which offered fine weather, year around fishing, a splendid opera and excellent medical facilities. After a three year struggle, Jean succumbed to cancer in 1991. Ken enjoyed great success fishing in the early years, but the diminishing quality of the ocean fishery led him to sell his boat and purchase Nikon Camera equipment and immerse himself in the study of photography. Numerous road trips with his camera to the American Southwest and the Canadian Rockies were highlights of his later years. In the winter months Ken kept busy in his darkroom or listening to classical music to which he was devoted to throughout his life.