Kevin Walter Kavanagh was born on March 31, 1943. He was the first born child of Celsus and Lillian (Forbes) Kavanagh. He was born in Ottawa Ontario and moved to Munster as a young child. He was raised along with his two sisters Marilyn and Marian in the Munster and Richmond Ontario area. He went to public school in Munster in a one room schoolhouse and later went to Richmond Public School.

While attending South Carleton High School Kevin’s father Celsus died at the age of 59. Kevin just 16 years of age quit school to become the principal breadwinner of the family. He started his working life working for his uncle Grant Kavanagh as well as driving a dump truck for Tom Cavanagh Construction.

Kevin Kavanagh was a graduate of the Ontario Fire College in Gravenhurst. He started his fire fighting career with the Defense Research Establishment Ottawa at Shirley’s Bay in the 60’s. When the Defense Research shut down their fire service they sent Kevin over to the March Township Fire Department with the remaining fire fighting equipment which they sold for a dollar. This led to numerous jokes over the years. The March Township Fire Department became the Kanata Fire Department and Kevin attained the rank of Captain. The Kanata Fire Service was one of eleven fire departments which amalgamated into the Ottawa Fire Services in January 2001.

Kevin married Mary Cunningham and they had one son Tim.
Kevin and Mary divorced after a number of years.

Kevin remarried Debi Duffy and was a devoted and doting partner for 18 years. He adopted Debi’s three children Paula, Rhonda and Patrick and gave them direction that only a father could, as he loved them like his own. Kevin was warm, compassionate, and proud to be a loving poppa of his granddaughter Mickaela Beggs. He always worked hard to support his family. Kevin had been an avid snowmobiler and loved his cottage life up at White Lake Ontario.

Kevin was a respected on and off the fire department. He was also very well known throughout the West End communities especially in the Richmond, Stittsville and North Gower areas.

His common sense approach and “Everyone Goes Home Theory” on the fire ground made working with him memorable to all. In the early years it was very common to have only 2 fire fighters on first arrival and for awhile after that. This galvanized the need to rely upon each other to extents only those who have worked extremely short staffed situations can appreciate. He honed to perfection the art of simplifying issues and not letting them grow out of proportion. Kevin was not afraid to offer his opinion to upper management in an open and honest manner. He was a tribute to the Fire Service.