Obituary of Eric Kenneth Curnow
ERIC “RICK” KENNETH CURNOW
DECEMBER-11-1930 – FEBRUARY-02-2026
Born in Kendal, Cumbria, England, Eric passed away peacefully at Perth Community Care Centre in his 96th year. He immigrated to Canada at age 21 and settled in Ottawa, where he married Helen Tolle on June 21, 1954. They shared 65 loving years of marriage until her passing in 2020.
Predeceased by his parents Joseph and Kate, and siblings Gordon and Pauline. Survived by his children John (Mary) and Susan Jennett (Doug), grandchildren Katie (Mike), Sarah (Joey), Elizabeth (Ryan), Megan (Felix), Deanna (Adam) and Patricia. Eric also had great-grandchildren; Lily, Luca, Carter, Mila (deceased), Theo, and Ronan.
Growing up in England through the great depression and during World War II Eric enjoyed building flying model airplanes and bicycling and later motorcycles, but did not enjoy rationing, gas mask drills, and other war difficulties. His first job was as a junior draftsman. He sailed to Canada in December 1951 on the Franconia, landing at Pier 21 in Halifax with $28 in his pocket.
Eric’s first job in Canada was an intermediate draftsman in Toronto. He soon moved to Ottawa for a design draftsman job at the National Research Council. He started at Atomic Energy of Canada (AECL) in 1954 as an intermediate draftsman and worked his way up to design beam therapy machines for cancer treatment and sterilization irradiators for medical products. He travelled to many countries installing irradiators and replenishing them with Cobalt 60. He stopped in to Kendal as often as he could to visit family. He is named in five patents relating to irradiator design.
Eric founded the Capital Amateur Winemaker Club (CAWC) in the late 1950’s, holding many of the early meetings in the basement of his house. He and Helen operated a retail outlet in the basement called Semplex Home Brews, selling wine and beer making supplies for 25 years. Dom Defalco was an early customer.
Following retirement Eric and Helen spent winters in Florida and travelled extensively around the world. Over the years he donated blood over 120 times.
A private interment will take place at a later date at Pinecrest Cemetery in Ottawa.
