LCdr Seth W. Grossmith CD RCN (Ret.), of Ottawa, ON, passed away peacefully at the Perley and Rideau Veterans Health Centre. He was predeceased by beloved wife Margot (2010) to whom he was married for 66 years. He will be greatly missed by his sons David (Margaret) of Bedford, NS, Mark (Evelyn) of Burnaby, BC; his cherished granddaughters Lynette (James) Mitchell and Michelle Grossmith; and great-granddaughter Maggie Mitchell, all of NS.
Seth was born and raised in Montreal and enlisted in the RCAF obtaining his wings in 1940. He was a veteran of the Second World War, serving as a flight instructor in the BCATP in Canada before posting overseas flying Lancasters with 635 Pathfinder Squadron in the RAF Bomber Command.
After the war, Seth attended McGill University and graduated as an Electrical Engineer in 1951. He then joined the RCN as a pilot and went to England, where he graduated as a test pilot from the British Empire Test Pilot School in Farnborough in 1954. Seth had a rewarding career as a naval test pilot and executive officer with VX-10 squadron.
After retiring from the Navy in 1966, Seth went on to a successful career as a civilian test pilot, both with private industry and government. His tenure at Transport Canada also included a secondment to NASA at the Ames Research Centre in California. He was awarded the McKee trophy, the oldest aviation award in Canada, for his work with NASA on the Augmentor Wing Research Aircraft from 1972-1983, citing his outstanding contributions in the field of air operations as an engineering test pilot.
Seth also test-flew numerous aircrafts, participated in accident investigations, designed emergency and safety procedures and had many research papers published. In a flying career that spanned nearly five decades, Seth flew more than 170 different types of aircraft, including gliders, helicopters, single and multi-engine aircraft and supersonic jets. Seth retired from active flying in 1986.
In 1988, he was elected as a fellow in the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute. In 1990, Seth was inducted into the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame with the tribute, "During his long and distinguished career, his dedication to research and experimental flying had improved the future of Canadian aviation." Seth was also a life member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots.
The family wishes to thank the staff of At Home Hospice and the staff of the Perley and Rideau Veterans Health Centre for their attentive care of Seth. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to any veterans' organization of your choice.