Corwyn C Havermans' Obituary
Corwyn Carl Havermans of Arlington, Virginia, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 16, 2023.
For the past 5 years, Corwyn had been managing the challenges of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) with grace, dignity, and the same determination he demonstrated throughout his life.
He was born January 21, 1950, in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of the late Carling X. Havermans and Inez Larson Havermans. He is survived by his wife Jeanne' Platz Havermans and his son Jack Davis Havermans, his sister Marcia Havermans Willis and her husband Donald Willis of St. Louis, Missouri. He is survived by 2 nieces and 2 nephews, 1 great niece and 3 great nephews. He is also survived by dear friends who shared a 40+ year friendship with him. These wonderful friends were his chosen family.
During his early childhood, Corwyn won first place in the 1963 Soap Box Derby City Championship and went onto represent Ballwin, Missouri at the Akron, Ohio competition. His photo in LIFE magazine was one of the greatest highlights of the event. While in the Boy Scout of America Troop 496, he earned his Eagle Scouts Award on September 27, 1965. Corwyn always said what he learned in Boy Scouts is what prepared him for life.
Corwyn graduated from Parkway High School in 1968. He received a Bachelor of Engineering from Vanderbilt University, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1972. He attended the University of California, Berkeley, and Cornell University receiving a Master of Engineering degree in 1973. He attended Harvard's Executive Development Program and was a Senior Executive Fellow, at the Defense System Management College.
Corwyn was employed by the Navy’s Strategic Systems Program (SSP) office. His 32-year career spanned all three Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBM), Strategic Weapon System (SWS); Polaris, Poseidon, and Trident – the world's primary deterrent to nuclear war. He also supported the United Kingdom's (UK) Polaris and Trident programs. In addition, he provided program management support over the SSGN (Ohio-Class Guided Missile Submarine) AWS (Attack Weapon System). Upon leaving Government service, Corwyn was hired by John Hopkins University, Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL) where he provided 10 years of technical expertise for the Ohio Class Submarine Replacement/UK TRIDENT class submarine replacement, Common Missile Compartment (CMC).
His highly regarded leadership, strategic insight, and technical expertise lead him to the positions of SSGN AWS Program Manager; SSP, Chief Engineer's Mechanical and System Safety Section Head; and SSP's Missile Branch Coordination and System Integration Engineer. He had a career of continual high-level recognition for his accomplishments, to include recipient of two out of three of the Navy's highest civilian awards; Meritorious and Superior.
In Corwyn's spare time, he loved projects… projects of all kinds! Corwyn would rebuild cars and motorcycles (it is rumored before he got married, he parked his Harley in his living room). He renovated his past home and his various rental properties in addition to building his family's beautiful home in Arlington, Virginia.
Corwyn was devoted to his church, Calvary United Methodist Church. He became the chair of the Trustees committee where he oversaw many projects, including the replacement of 116 windows on the church's property. He volunteered to usher at the early services and volunteered to serve as waiter at the monthly pancake breakfast fundraiser. He made the mistake of trying to apply systematic engineering process control and logic to the pancake breakfast, and eventually resorted to roaming the room with a coffee pot in hand to keep everyone's cup filled. He took great pride in his position as Chartered Organization Representative for the Cub Scouts (COR).
Corwyn earned the honor of oldest scout and was given the austere privilege of cutting the cake at the BSA Blue and Gold Ceremony alongside the youngest scout.
Although Corwyn found love late in life with his wife Jeanne', nothing could compare to the pride he had, when he became a father to his son Jack. He never missed an event whether it was school related, baseball, basketball, driving to summer camps 5hrs round trip. Corwyn was there. He loved the title Daddy or Dad most of all.
Although dementia is known as the long goodbye, Corwyn did it on his own terms. He took the high road and left this world knowing he was loved by family and dear friends.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00PM on Friday June 9th, 2023 at Calvary United Methodist Church, 2315 S. Grant St. Arlington, VA 22202. Guest are encouraged to writ a funny or poignant story about Corwyn or bring a photo to donate for Jack's memory box.
Friends and family are invited to a reception following the service at Crystal City Sports Pub, 529 23rd Street South, Arlington, VA 22202
Many of you have been asking what to do in lieu of flowers. A donation may be made for Jack Davis's college fund at https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/8UzvShxM0h
or checks can be sent to Jeanne' Havermans at 634 21st Street South, Arlington, Virginia 22202.
Thank you for supporting Jack Davis in this manner.
Don't cry because it is over. Smile because it happened."
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