MICHAEL O'DONOVAN

MICHAEL VALENTINE O'DONOVAN, C.M. (1936-2005) Val died quietly at his home in Bermuda on Saturday, February 5, suddenly but peacefully, 16 months after learning he had cancer of his larynx. He was attended by his wife of 44 years, Sheila. Val is predeceased by his parents, Patrick Joseph and Mary Imelda (nee O'Donnell), and brother Patrick and sister Noreen and survived by brothers Seamus and Aaron, sisters Rita and Dolores, wife Sheila, sons Simon, Christopher and Stephen, daughter Caroline, daughters-in-law Geraldine, Fuyuko and Lori, grandchildren Brian, Patrick, Tyler, Tiffany, Deborah, Michael, Kelly, Adam and Ashley, goddaughter Joanne and by many nieces and nephews. Val was born in Clonakilty, Co. Cork, Ireland on Valentine's Day in 1936. After graduating as an electrical engineer from the Cambridge College of Technology in 1959 he worked at Pye Telecommunications. Soon after graduating he met Sheila and they were married in 1960. In 1963 Val, his pregnant wife and their two infant sons immigrated to Canada. After working in the satellite division at RCA in Montreal Val, joined with two partners who founded Com Dev in 1972. On Hallowe'en in 1979 Com Dev, along with 44 families, moved to Cambridge, Ontario. Under Val's leadership Com Dev continued to thrive and in 1996 became a publicly listed company. In 1998 Val retired as CEO of Com Dev but continued on as Chairman of the Board until December 2004. In 1992 Val was awarded the McNaughton Gold Medal by the Institution of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. In 1995 the University of Waterloo awarded him the degree of Doctor of Engineering (Honoris Causa). In 2001 Val was awarded with the John H. Chapman Award from the Canadian Space Agency. In 2003 Val was appointed to the Order of Canada, Canada's highest civilian honour. From 1997-2003 Val was Chancellor at the University of Waterloo where he relished giving degrees to many thousands of students, to each of whom he has something special to say. In 1998 Val and Sheila started a charitable foundation to establish a residential hospice in Waterloo Region for terminally ill cancer patients. In July 2000 Lisaard House (lisaard.com) was open for its first residents. Val's special interests included his rose garden, his bookshelves and his wine cellar. There will be a private family funeral followed by a celebration of Val's life on the afternoon of Sunday, February 20th. All whose lives have been touched by Val are welcome to attend. For details please either email (celebration@odonovan.ca), fax (519-624-0182) or telephone (519-653-6412). In lieu of flowers donations to Lisaard House (990 Speedsville Rd., Cambridge, ON, N3H4R6) would be appreciated.