Kenneth Townsend Hepburn

Kenneth Townsend Hepburn passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, on September 28, 2025, at the age of 90. Ken will be remembered for his warm, easygoing nature and the genuine kindness he extended to everyone he met. He left a lasting impression on countless lives and carried his signature sense of humor right to the end—joking that, after eleven long days in hospital, he was ready to go recover at the pub. Ken’s life was shaped by a deep sense of charity and kindness, a legacy that began with his parents’ journey from Glasgow, Scotland, to Canada in 1920 in search of a better life. His father, James Noble Hepburn, a veteran of World War I who was severely wounded in the Third Battle of Ypres, later became a Presbyterian minister. During World War II, he served as an honorary flight lieutenant/Chaplain with the RCAF on several Bomber Command training bases. The Hepburn family lived and served in communities across Canada, and along the way, they adopted Ken’s sister, an orphan, Mae. Ken was later born in Lethbridge, Alberta, where his father was minister at the local Presbyterian Church.

Ken was fortunate to experience the joy of two loving marriages. He was first married to the late Roberta Bradley for over 25 years, with whom he raised two children, Jennifer and Michael (Minna). He was a proud and devoted grandfather to their children: Alexander, Madeleine, Malcolm, Kristiina, and Hayden. Later, 1991, he found love again with Oksana Bashuk Zyla, also a widow. Together they built a new life. Ken became a cherished father figure to Oksana’s children and their spouses—Roman (Larissa Talpash), Melana (Michael Vickers), and Libid (Randy Harder)—and was affectionately known as "Papa Ken" to eight more grandchildren: Meletiy, Theodosiya, Oksana, Kalyna, Kathryn, Alie, Tashi and Sophi. One of Ken and Oksana’s proudest accomplishments was purchasing a cottage on Lac Heney, Quebec—a long-held dream come true. The cottage quickly became a beloved family gathering place, filled with laughter, memories, and Ken’s ever-evolving list of DIY projects. Ken’s professional life was equally rich. After an early attempt at physics at the University of Toronto—which he candidly admitted often gave way to afternoons at the cinema—he found his true calling in electrical engineering, which was much better suited to his practical mind. He later earned an MBA from the University of Alberta and embarked on a distinguished career in Canada’s public service. He served with the Department of Communications from its founding, rising quickly up the ranks to Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, and upon retirement, was recognized by his Deputy Minister as “a true pioneer who helped to shape the direction of DOC for more than 23 years.” As both a leader and mentor, Ken was deeply committed to supporting the professional growth of colleagues in Canada and Ukraine, having devoted his retirement years, alongside Oksana, to the democratization of newly sovereign Ukraine based on Canada’s model. Ken was also a focal person in the community; he was an elder at St Andrews Presbyterian Church, spending hours visiting parishioners and touring the Ottawa Valley for home visits. He was a keen tennis player, always allowing the point when the line came into question. Ken's life was one of quiet integrity, generosity, and joy. The loss to his family is irreparable. In place of flowers, donations in Ken’s memory may be made to the Ukrainian World Congress . A service to celebrate Ken’s life will be held at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 82 Kent Street, Ottawa, on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at 11:00 a.m.