Kevin Wood Snowdon Blaisdell Greaves Obituary
Kevin passed peacefully in hospital February 7, 2025, just days after celebrating his 94th birthday at home with his loving family.
Born in 1931 and raised in Barbados to parents Francis Greaves and Mary Greaves (Snowdon), Kevin began his medical training at King's College School in England and completed it at Queen's University in Kingston before settling in Hamilton, Ontario. There, he practiced family medicine for 43 years, ably assisted by his dear wife, Christina.
Following graduation, Kevin served as a Medical Officer, Royal Canadian Air Force Reserve, including two seasons in the high Arctic at Resolute Bay, NWT. In addition to operating a full medical practice, he became deeply involved with the Royal Canadian Sea Cadet movement, authored 18 books on Sea Cadet training, and eventually was appointed National Chairman of the Royal Sea Cadets.
As a young child in Barbados, a chance encounter with a copy of Grant's Manual of Heraldry in his father's library sparked a life-long interest in the art and history of heraldry. Kevin joined the Heraldry Society of Canada in 1982 and eventually became its president in 2001. During the five years of his tenure as president, many initiatives were accomplished, including the publishing of "A Canadian Heraldic Primer", but he was most proud of his initiative to obtain royal permission for the Society to become the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada, and to include the royal crown in the newly-designed Society arms.
Kevin also had a passion for model railroads and spent many years in clubs helping with construction of many installations - designing, building, and crafting all kinds of dioramas built to scale. Even into his 90's he could be found at his work bench, constructing tiny, perfect landscapes and scale models of his loved ones homes.
Predeceased by his parents, brother, Patrick; and sister, Rachel (Burton); wife, Christina (Gray); sons, Peter and Brian (Cindy, nee Hilvers also deceased).
Survived by daughter, Maureen Greaves and husband, Paul Farkas; grandchildren, Michelle Slaz (nee O'Keefe) and husband Kyle, Samantha O'Keefe, Crystal Carlson (nee Greaves) and husband Brenden, Melody Greaves and fiancé Matthew Przybylowski, and Liam Greaves and partner Rowan Post. Also survived by great-grandchildren, Maddison, Avery and Emma Williams, and Harrison Slaz.
Cremation has already taken place. Private interment with immediate family.
