 |
MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly Jan 2003
James R. Cavanaugh * '46
No. 15638 * 19 Aug 1925 - 26 Mar 2002
Died in Daytona Beach Shores, FL * Interred at West Point Cemetery,
West Point, NY |
James R. (Dick) Cavanaugh was born and grew up
in McKeesport, PA. He graduated from Mercersburg Academy, Mercersburg,
PA. In 1943, was appointed to West Point and entered with the
Class of 1946 on 1 July 1943.
Dick was a natural for cadet life. His love of sports found fulfillment
when he became manager for the football team and he served on
the staffs of the Pointer and Bugle Notes each year. At the Catholic
Chapel he was a Missal Reader, Acolyte and Choir member. In June
of 1946, Dick graduated as a second lieutenant of Field Artillery.
After basic Artillery schooling at Fort Sill, OK and Ft Bliss,
TX, Dick was assigned to the 24th Division Artillery in Japan.
He then became Aide de Camp to the CG of the 7th Division. On
19 November 1949, he married Virginia Barr in Sapporo. In 1950,
he attended the Guided Missile School at Fort Bliss and taught
there for several years. In 1954, Dick decided to sample civilian
life and resigned from the Army.
Dick was employed by General Electric as a Sales Engineer/Manager
with the Heavy Military Division in Syracuse, NY until 1961 when
he joined a GE marketing group selling military equipment to
the NATO countries. In 1963, GE sent him to Daytona Beach, FL
to help coordinate guidance systems for the Atlas and Apollo
missiles.
In 1967, Dick moved to Western Union in northern New Jersey.
There for 22 years he worked in telecommunications assisting
in the development of Telex, Mailgram and the Westar satellite.
There he earned his MBA from Farleigh Dickinson University and
completed course work in financial planning in which he became
certified after his retirement in 1989.
In 1991, the Cavanaughs moved back to Daytona Beach, summering
for 5 years at the Jersey shore with their family. Dick's brother,
Robert, had lost both kidneys and had been on dialysis for years.
When his condition began to deteriorate, Dick gave him one of
his, becoming at 71, one of the oldest male donors.
Dick died 26 March 2002 at home from cancer. Survivors include
his wife, Ginnie; sons, David, James, Richard and Thomas; daughters,
Ann and Mary; bother Robert; sister Gertrude and thirteen grandchildren.
From those who loved him come remembrances of a truly good man.
Daughter, Ann, recalled: "My father was a quiet, humble
man who never blew his own horn. I realize and appreciate how
blessed we were to have him as our father. He and Mom provided
us with a loving, safe and secure family life. We learned right
from wrong and how to be kind and considerate to other people.
He is the true example of unconditional love and giving, expecting
nothing in return."
Son, David, remembered: "He was a highly capable and quiet
man; a hard worker at his job and at home. Of all his accomplishments,
he was most proud of his time at West Point. He was always conscientious
toward other people and was devoted to his family. He was a good
man and we miss him a lot."
Son, Thomas, wrote: "I believe that he developed into the
man we so admired and loved as a result of his West Point experience.
His greatest single trait was being a true 'gentleman.' The theme
that echoed throughout my father's life was his fundamental principle
that his own happiness and welfare were insignificant to that
of others. It is still a shock, but I know that Dad has passed
through the express line to the best possible place that awaits
us in the next life."
Daughter, Mary, recalled: "My father was the kindest and
gentlest man I ever knew. He excelled at everything he did his
entire life, yet you would never know it for he was too modest
to speak of his achievements. His values were family and friends
and that's where he put his energies. He was dearly loved by
all, and will never be forgotten by any."
Son, James, wrote: "My Dad had a strong sense of Duty. When
he made a commitment, he followed through. My Dad was a man of
Honor. He valued and practiced always speaking the truth and
showed us to do the same. To my Dad, Honor also meant admitting
mistakes, asking forgiveness and leaving ego at the door. My
Dad loved his Country. I think his ultimate expression of love
of Country is his wish to be buried at West Point. Dad was proud
to be part of West Point. West Point must be awfully proud to
have helped shape the life of a wonderful family man and citizen.
We all miss his immensely."
His loving wife, Ginnie, recalled: "As a husband, Dick was
cooperative, industrious, creative and funny. He was a completely
selfless person of the highest integrity. I consider myself very
fortunate to have spent 52 years with him. Although I miss him
terribly, I am really a very lucky woman."
The Class of 1946 is proud to add those words that would mean
so much to our classmate: "Well Done, Dick; Be Thou At Peace!"
'46 Memorial Article Project and his family
|