Joseph Romanow

BGen (ret’d) Joseph Roman Romanow passed away peacefully in Ottawa on March 21, 2011 after a courageous fight with cancer. Born May 3, 1921 in Saskatoon, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in 1940. During WWII, he served in Canada, the UK, and then in the Indian, Burmese and Chinese theatres of war with 435 and 436 RCAF Squadrons. In 1945 he flew for a year with 437 RCAF Squadron flying transport aircraft throughout Europe and concurrently worked with the Canadian Ukrainian Relief Bureau in London to assist Ukrainians displaced by the war to join relatives in Canada. In London, he met his beloved wife, Lt Josephine Sawchuk, RCMAC, whom he married in 1947. He rose to the rank of Brigadier General becoming the first Ukrainian Canadian general in the Canadian Forces. In 1955, he completed an MSc in aeronautical engineering at the Cranford Institute of Technology in England. BGen Romanow served in various military capacities including on the Avro Aircraft project team as a project engineer, with NORAD, with the 4th Allied Tactical Air Force Headquarters in West Germany, and retired as Director General Organization and Manpower in Ottawa. In 1974 he was named Commander in the Order of Military Merit. In his retirement, BGen (ret’d) Romanow authored six books on family history, his life, and his military experiences. He enjoyed his involvement with the Kanata Writing Group and the Kanata Legion. Throughout his life he played a leadership role in the Ukrainian Canadian community, and was an active member of the Ukrainian Catholic church. He was predeceased by brother Stephen, sisters Anne and Stefa, and wife Josephine. He is survived by his brothers Walter (Yvonna) and Morris (Mildred), and children LCol (ret’d) Mary (Col (ret’d) Allen Conrad), Ottawa, John (Twila), Huntsville, ON, Capt(N) (ret’d) Greg (Marilynne), Ottawa, and Dr. Paula, Lawrencetown, NS. He was also survived by grandchildren Kalyna (Eric), Snow (Greg), Melissa, Megan, Michael (Emily), Nicholas (Amy), and Heather (Jay), and many loving nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends on Thursday, March 24, from 2-4 p.m., and 6:30-8:30 p.m., at McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home, 1411 Hunt Club Road (at Albion Road). Panachyda will be at 7 p.m. in the parlour. Funeral service will be held at St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Shrine, 952 Green Valley Crescent, Ottawa, on Friday, 25 March at 10 a.m. Interment to follow at Pinecrest Cemetery, 2500 Baseline Rd. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society or the St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Shrine. Online condolences may be sent to McEvoy-Shields.com

VICHNAYA PAMYAT