Browse the obituary of residing in the province of Ontario for funeral details
Born in St Catharine’s to Neil and Helen Kavander, John spent his childhood developing a love of sports and friendships that would last a lifetime.
Second among six kids, John proved to be an industrious young man at a very early age. By 10, he’d built a paper route – more of an empire, as he told it – before taking the proceeds he’d made tossing papers on porches to help pay for 4 years of business school at Western.
While studying at Western, John joined the Zeta Psi fraternity, living in the frat house on Oxford Street where he formed some of his most enduring friendships. And, during this same period, John became engaged in a now legendary tale of cat and mouse, pursuing Carole Johnson until she finally succumbed to his schoolboy charm. The following year, Carol agreed to be his bride.
Having graduated and found his soul mate, John also found himself swept up in the golden age of advertising, joining Russell T. Kelly in Hamilton – one of Canada’s oldest, independent advertising agencies, at the time.
In 1967, after establishing himself at Kelly’s, John packed up his young family and headed to Montreal to open R.T. Kelly’s Montreal office. John and Carole spent four years living in Beaconsfield before returning to Southern Ontario to open Kelly’s Toronto office. Advertising was now deep in his blood. But in an era of mad men, John was anything but.
He was also an amazing Father to his three sons – Greg, Tim and Mike. When he wasn’t driving them to 6am hockey practices, he was on the ice coaching. Or, flooding the backyard rink. Or, coaching soccer, shooting hoops in the driveway or wrapping a bum elbow or shoulder so he could toss a baseball in the backyard – whatever it took to inspire young minds.
Somewhere in between that organized chaos, John found time to instill his love of the great outdoors in his boys. With an old soft top, tent trailer, hitched to the back of an ailing Pontiac Parisienne, he, Carole and the boys spent weekends camping from Kilbear to Killarney, every chance he got.
His love of the outdoors inspired Carole and John to buy a rustic cottage on an island on Kahshe Lake, where the entire family spent 20 years fishing, hiking, waterskiing, golfing, building bonfires, looking at the stars and listening to the loons, well into the night.
And through it all, he found time to give back. He was an active participant in Ontario politics, believing a seat on the sidelines just wouldn’t get the job done. He was active in his community as well, serving on the board at Joseph Brant Hospital in Burlington for years before eventually becoming their Chairman from 1991-93.
A good guy? You bet. But let’s be honest – he was a great guy. A funny guy. Music lover. World traveller. Avid reader. That famous smile. And a man with a keen eye (just the one) for a great deal at Canadian Tire.
John is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Carole, his son Greg (wife Celine), Tim (wife Stacey) and Mike (wife Janine) and his many grandchildren, who have always brought him immense joy. He is also survived by siblings Kay, Jackie, Gord, Saima and Olive and frankly, too many dear friends to name.
A private family cremation and a public “Celebration of Life” to follow at a later date.
Tuesday April 1st 2025
Death notice for the town of: , Province: Ontario
death notice John Raymond Kavander Tuesday April 1st 2025
obituaries notice John Raymond Kavander Tuesday April 1st 2025
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of John Raymond Kavander Tuesday April 1st 2025 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
