KENNEDY, P. Donald, Q.C.

(1920 – 2010)

Don passed away on Thursday, August 12, 2010, surrounded by his loved ones. Beloved husband of Catherine and dear father of Julianne (Andrew Rozen), Mary, Patrick (Elizabeth Jefferson) and Hugh (Terry Kennedy), he will also be sorely missed by his grandchildren, Jonathan and Michael Rozen; Flannery and Una Jefferson and Malcolm Kennedy; and Dylan and Sean Kennedy. Born in 1920 in Brandon, Manitoba, he was an active member of St. Augustine’s Parish and the Brandon YMCA. He graduated from St. Paul’s College, University of Manitoba with an arts degree and from the Manitoba Law School with a law degree. During WW II he served as an officer with the Canadian Armed Forces. After a short period of law practice in Winnipeg, Don moved to Alberta where he joined the law department of Canadian Superior Oil. Three years later he moved to Calgary and organized the law department of and became General Counsel for Sun Oil Company, Canadian Production Division, later Suncor Energy Inc., where he served for thirty-three years. It was in Calgary that Don met Catherine Ryan, who he married in 1956. After retiring from Suncor, he spent nine years as counsel with a Calgary law firm. Don was always active in his professional community. He served as Chairman of the Legal Committee of the then Canadian Petroleum Association, Director of the Canadian Institute of Resources Law, President of the Association of Canadian General Counsel, Chairman of the Canadian Petroleum Law Foundation, Secretary-Treasurer of the Petroleum Recovery Institute and legal counsel and Secretary of the Society, Environment and Energy Development Studies Foundation (SEEDS). He appeared as counsel for the Canadian Petroleum Association before various tribunals, receiving the Association’s Award of Merit (Legal) in 1964. In 1981 he was appointed Queen’s Counsel by Alberta. Throughout his life Don contributed generously to the community. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, served as Chairman of the Board of the Providence Creche (now Providence Child Care Centre), acted as counsel to the Sisters of the Precious Blood, served as a Trustee on the Calgary Separate School Board and participated in the founding of St. Mary’s University College. He was also active in politics and other community affairs in Calgary and at Columbia Lake, where he was President of the Columere Park Community Association from 1984-1986, drawing up the constitution and by-laws for incorporation and co-ordinating community efforts to enhance the beach area. A great sportsman all his life, he was an avid skier to the age of 85 and enjoyed the pleasures of golf well beyond, transmitting his love of the mountains and the outdoors to his family. Steadfast friend and advisor, his unfailing wit and wisdom were a gift to all. He will be dearly missed.