Kenneth Lawrence Ozmon

Kenneth Lawrence Ozmon, age 90, passed away peacefully on February 23, 2022, at Parkland at the Gardens in Halifax. Ken’s family is grateful that his steadfast friend, Bill Malloy, was able to be at his side.

Ken was born in 1931 in Portsmouth, Virginia, the second of four children of Howard Ozmon and Anna Lynch. He graduated from St. Bernard College in Alabama and went on to earn a master’s degree from Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. After spending time at Marianopolis College in Montreal, he made his way to Maine. There, while pursuing his PhD in Psychology, he met Elizabeth, a young widow with a beautiful little daughter, Angela. Ken and Elizabeth married, and the family of three headed west to California. Now Dr. Ozmon, Ken joined the faculty of Chico State University. The family soon headed back east, to Prince Edward Island, where Ken began what would be a long and successful career in academic administration, serving as Dean of Arts at UPEI. While in PEI, daughter Kendi was born, and several years later, the family packed up the little red Fiat for an adventure to the big city, Halifax, when Ken was named President of Saint Mary’s University in 1979.

Ken led a major transformation of Saint Mary’s, growing the university’s size, international footprint, and reputation during his 21-year presidency. He was known not only for his astute leadership skills, but also for his intense love of Huskies sports and his kindness toward all he met, particularly the student population. Every Christmas after opening presents with the family, Ken would put on his suit and tie and head over to the student cafeteria unannounced, to share a meal with whatever students were unable to make it home for the holidays. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to education, Ken was made an officer of the Order of Canada in 1998. Not content to leave university administration after his retirement from Saint Mary’s in 2000, Ken served for six years as President of Mount Allison University, where he struggled mightily whenever the Mounties played the Huskies.

Ken is survived by his daughter, Kendi, son-in-law Brian Kim, grandchildren Emma and Griffin Roberts, Angela, Josie, and Maddy Kim, sister Catherine Ann Ozmon Quindiagan, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his devoted wife Elizabeth and his remarkable daughter Angela Vecchio-Ozmon, as well as his brothers Howard and Raymond Ozmon.

While his family recognized his many professional achievements, they will mostly remember laughing with their beloved Pop-Pop, playing games, making biscuits, walking on the beach looking for shells, and feeding apples to the deer and peanuts to the blue jays from the back deck.

There will be no funeral service at this time. An appropriate celebration of Ken’s life will be planned for a later date when capacity restrictions have been lessened.

Donations may be made in Ken’s memory to the Kenneth & Elizabeth Ozmon Family Scholarship at Saint Mary’s University. https://giving.smu.ca/?designation=315.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.JASnowFuneralHome.com for the OZMON family.