====== Denovan, Robert A. ====== 
 (4 Oct. 1884-28 June 1976) and his son **John James Denovan** (died 25 or 26 June 1999, aged 84) (John Denovan) , both engineers. Robert A. Denovan was born on the family farm near Dalkeith, GC, the son of James Denovan (who was killed, aged 53, in a barn raising in 1895, when his son was 10 years old) and his wife Isabelle Jamieson. As the child of a widowed mother, Robert A. Denovan had to struggle to obtain an education, but graduated in mechanical engineering from Queen’s University in 1914. He was the chief engineer in charge of asbestos fibre milling research at Johns Manville Co. (Asbestos, Que.), retiring in 1949. In retirement, he continued to work on innovations in asbestos mills and asbestos milling machinery. His obituary describes him as the author of “many articles based on the Bible.” He spent his later years at Dalkeith. He died at Hawkesbury General Hospital. He was married to Lily M. McRae (1893-1985). (four children) Their son John James Denovan graduated in engineering from Queen’s University in 1940. He was married to Bettee Cluff, who predeceased him. (three children) She was the daughter of J. A. Cluff. During World War II, when Denovan was a liason officer with the British tank design department, he made important innovations in tank design and use. In 1953, he was in England to receive an award from the Royal Commission on Awards to Inventors. (//Glengarry News// 14 May 1953). This award is mentioned in a British government report of 1956, one of a series dealing with W W II inventors, which lists J. J. Denovan as awarded £1500 for his work on an “Assault Vehicle.” The Major John James Denovan Pavillion at the Valcartier Canadian forces base near Quebec City was named in his honour in 1998. He died at his home near Dalkeith. He and his father are both buried in the United Church cemetery, Kirk Hill.


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<fs small>Robert A. Denovan: obituaries //Glengarry News// 5 Aug. 1976 & //QAR// Jan.-Feb. 1977; gravestone; graduates, //Glengarry News// 1 May 1914; obituary of his father, //Vankleek Hill Review// 5 July 1895 (at the exceptionally large funeral, “There were fully 175 carriages at the house”) * John James Denovan: obituary //Vankleek Hill Review// (2 notices, portrait) 30 June 1999, //QAR// May-June 2000; sale of his farm effects, //GN// & //VKHR// 7 & 14 July 1999; promoted captain, major, //Glengarry News// 12 Feb. 1943, 23 Feb. 1945; interview article, //GN// 19 Aug. 1992 (portrait); receives Canada 125 medal, //VKHR// 13 Oct. 1993 (portrait), //GN// 20 Oct. 1993 (portrait); his Pavilion honour, //GN// 11 & 18 March & 19 Aug. 1998, //VKHR// 22 April & 26 Aug. 1998 (portrait), //QAR// July-Aug. 1998 * //Royal Commission on Awards to Inventors: Fourth and Final Report Presented to Parliament by Command of Her Majesty May 1956// (London, HMSO, Cmd. 9744) 16
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