If my friend John Pronovost from the class of 78 was still with us, he may have approached this writing in a low-key, understated passage, but since he passed from cancer on 3 Jan 2023, it is up to me to address his life in a way that may help those of you who knew him to understand him maybe a bit better.
Joseph JOHN Antonio PRONOVOST was a kind, complicated soul who was deeply dedicated to his family. As the eldest of five, he and his mother (widowed in the late 80’s or early 90’s) together became the centre of the universe for his four sisters, all of whom were diagnosed with Schizophrenia as young women. His parents and two of his sisters pre-deceased him. The two youngest are managing life, with support from the Schizophrenia society and family.
To be clear, John thankfully did not have this affliction, but the tremendous pressure that living, as the eldest, with family so burdened, did cause him to step-back and withdraw at times, as life pressures transcended the ability to cope.
John, who joined RMC in 73, was overwhelmed, in part from the impact of the above family trauma. John knew, before Christmas in his third year that there was no academic recovery for that year. Rather than carry on and take a failure without any financial resources to repeat the year, John asked to “withdraw” from the year, at that point, and carry on with a fresh start the following September. It was a loophole, which he and his squad boss found and applied to negate the consequences of a “failed year.” He changed his engineering major to a discipline that was more manageable and carried on. Consequently, John excelled in his “second” third year. He was CSL of 2 Sqn, in his fourth year and graduated with a secure future in the Navy.
John was a good and proud Naval officer, serving in HMCS Fraser, but he blamed his five of seven years away from home, in training and deployments, to be the cause of his marriage break-up. I knew John as a devoted husband to Laura Diane Olson. [If anyone has contact with Diane, please let me know so that I can pass on a message.]
John chose to leave the military at the nine-year point.
With this ending of career, John opened a small bookstore in Picton, ON, called “Chapter One.” Unfortunately, the responsibilities as a struggling start-up business owner, in the trying economic times of the late 80’s early 90’s, along with the pressures of his absolute commitment to family, affected the sound conditions for growth, so the business failed. Once again adrift, John, by finding calm and in reflection for a time afterward, recognized that he was a skilled educator and found the greatest joy and fulfilment within this path.
John set upon this pursuit of being a teacher from this point on. In short time, Mr. Pronovost was a name that was respected and appreciated. In short, John was one of the excellent teachers that found creative ways to help all students learn beyond their potential. He taught high school in Belleville, adults in Trenton, and finally elementary students in Kingston. His loss to the teaching community is sadly felt and he is greatly missed by faculty and students alike.
John did not let many beyond the surface of the veneer that shielded his life. While he did not gain the usually accolades and distinction that is generally associated with success, rest assure that my friend amplified the principles of our college. John embodied of essence of Truth Duty and Valour in all undertakings and he maintained a close association with RMC.
With John’s cancer ravaging his body, he spoke only of two “bucket list” items. First was to join the Old Brigade and march to the Arch with the class of 77, and second was to be with the class of 78 for a similar experience during the ex-cadet weekend in 2023. Even though the Queen’s death stopped the class of 77 official functions, John and I conducted our own march [ok, stroll] to the Arch that September weekend in 22. I trust that while John will not be with you in September 23, each of you who knew him will venture to carry one remembrance with you and share with each other or perhaps with one of the recruits.
As a postscript, I will add that I dedicated one of my poems to John’s memory. He passed with such courage and peacefulness that I was at a loss how to express the days spent with him in Palliative care. I have printed the poem below in hope it carries meaning for all.
For the Class of 78 and for my friend John I hope that all your lives continue to carry “Fair winds and following seas.”
11362 Charles (Chuck) Garnier
On a summer’s day
By Charles Garnier for John Pronovost
I love to lay back and stare at the sky,
at the end of a summer’s long day;
With feet raised up and back inclined,
a journey sets upon its way.
For as I snuggle in, and breathe a sigh of relief,
I shed the weight of all my cares;
Like being afloat, in a skiff that’s becalmed,
along currents in winds so fair.
And as the sky fades, I spot comrades untold,
waving from a far distant shore;
Calling to me, that the time does draw near,
when we should meet once more.
Then a smile of contentment, touches my soul,
as I remember these comrades of old;
Until eyes drift to sunset, and stars do awake,
lost as memories, in reverence unfold.
And at the journey’s far reach, beyond eternity’s sea,
waves crash upon distant shores;
But fearful or not, there is no going back,
for the winds have awoken once more.
And with the new shore in reach, dawn nudges me now
to awake with the new-found day.
And to keep in my sight, the beacon of light,
trusted always to illuminate the way.
23 June, 2023
(his friend’s final journey)
