For Bob Behan, a career in mathematics followed other professional pursuits.
Bob attended Pembroke Elementary School, then Oakwood C.I. in Toronto. He worked as an underground miner in the Kirkland Lake area before joining the air force in 1942. Bob trained as a navigator, was posted to an RAF bomber squadron in England, and flew bombing missions over Europe.
In 1949 Bob graduated from the University of Toronto with a degree in Mining Engineering and worked in the mining industry until 1960. At the age of 40 he became a teacher and taught for 25 years in Ottawa high schools: Eastview H.S., Ridgemont H.S., Lisgar C.I. (where he was mathematics department head) and Hillcrest H.S.
“Mathematics in Space Travel”, a 1970 project Bob originally presented at a mathematics conference, ultimately became a television program.
Besides the Descartes Medal, Bob is the recipient of an Association of Professional Engineers Award (1974).