N. Byron CAVADIAS

1929 - 2023

N. BYRON CAVADIAS It is with great sadness we share that N. Byron Cavadias died on Saturday, August 12, 2023, at the Kingston General Hospital. He is survived by his wife, Juliet; sons, Alex (Donna), Michael and Philip (Carmen); daughter, Diana; grandchildren, Stephanie, Madeleine, Kurt, William, Phoebe, Amara and Nerine; his sister, Hebe; and brother, George. Byron was born in Galgaun, India, on February 8, 1929, and moved to Greece with his Greek parents when he was two. In his early twenties, he moved to England, where he attended the University of Southampton and the London City and Guilds Institute, specializing in radio technology. He worked for TAE Greek National Airlines as a radio engineer, and later became a sound radar specialist with the Royal Air Force in 1953. While in England, Byron met his future wife, Juliet, and they both immigrated to Montreal in 1956 and wed on December 22nd of that year. Upon arriving in Montreal, Byron joined Canadian Aviation Electronics Ltd. At CAE, he had a long and illustrious career. In the early 1960s, Byron was a project manager for the project to produce a flight simulator for the CF-104 Starfighter. Byron went on to become Manager of Manufacturing, Vice President of Operations, Executive Vice President and President in 1975. By 1990, Byron was the Senior Vice President, Aerospace and Electronics Group of the parent Company CAE Industries. Byron retired in 1994. In 1985, Byron received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Concordia University. In 1988, the Commander in Chief of the USAF Military Airlift Command cited him for outstanding contribution to their C-5 simulator programs, and in 1990, NASA commended him for outstanding cooperation between government and industry on the Crew Station Research Program. In 1990, he received the C.D. Howe Award from the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute. In 1996, Byron was inducted into Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame. Byron's favourite pastime was sailing and he spent many years exploring the waters from Lac St. Louis to Kingston, Ontario. A memorial will be held on October 8th at the Royal St. Lawrence Yacht Club, Duval, Quebec, between 12:00 and 4:00 p.m. This will be a perfect venue to celebrate his life, as some of the best family memories with him were made on his boat and at the club. We also ask that in lieu of flowers, please donate to one of Byron's favourite charities, Orbis Canada (can.orbis.org).