It is with sadness that we mark the passing of Marv Sywyk. A distinguished RCAF officer and C&E Branch member, Marv passed away on 10 Oct 2022 in Ottawa after a lengthy illness.

A Celebration of Life was held on 27 October at the Carleton Golf and Yacht Club in Manotick, ON. Marv’s family was joined by many classmates, colleagues, friends, and neighbours to share treasured memories of Marv and his rich, full life.

Marv had a distinguished career in the RCAF/Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), beginning as an Officer Cadet at Royal Roads in 1964 and retiring as a Colonel 30 years later. He graduated from the Royal Military College (RMC) with a degree in electrical engineering and was commissioned as a Telecommunications Officer. He took on challenges in increasingly demanding positions in the air defence world and earned his master’s degree from RMC in 1974. Over the next two decades he had a leadership role in the design, development, and deployment of several major projects, including: the CAF Air Traffic Control terminal radar & communications system (TRACS) project; the NATO AWACS project; the Forward Operating Location (FOL) project – for CF-18 operations in the Arctic; and the project to replace the DEW Line with the North Warning System in a joint undertaking with the US Air Force. These projects significantly enhanced the capability of the CAF and our allies. Marv also served at the Aeronautical Engineering & Test Establishment (AETE) Cold Lake as the Senior Data Engineer. He was a former President of the Ottawa RCAF Officers’ Mess Committee.

After he retired from the CAF, Marv continued to serve his country and his community as a defence contractor and consultant, as the Regional Vice President (Canada) for AFCEA International, as a Regional Director for the Air Cadet League, as the organizer of the annual Ottawa RMC Golf Tournament, and as an executive with his neighborhood association. Marv’s many accomplishments were matched by his sterling character and magnanimous personality which together earned him the respect and friendship of a vast network of colleagues and associates across Canada and beyond.