Jay Francis Kavanagh

JAY FRANCIS KAVANAGH, Age 72, of Williamsburg, Virginia passed away on July 20, 2023. Jay was born in Marlboro, Massachusetts on December 12, 1950, the eldest son of Francis M. and Anita E. Kavanagh. He is predeceased by his brother, Gary, and is survived by his Wife of 53 years, Mary Margaret Kavanagh, his 3 sons, Benjamin Francis Kavanagh of Virginia Beach, VA, Brian Fitzgerald Kavanagh of Lawton, OK, and Bradley Foster Kavanagh of Williamsburg, VA, and his 5 grandchildren, Abigail and Austin Kavanagh of Virginia Beach, VA and Brayden, Brycen, and Briarleigh Kavanagh of Lawton, OK.

Jay graduated from The Choate School in 1969 and went on to graduate from Harvard University in 1973. While at school, Jay was an accomplished athlete having lettered in both Baseball and Football. In his professional life, Jay was Vice President of Operations for Program Control Corporation for 20 years in Southern California then went on to work for Allied Signal/Honeywell for another 20 years where he focused on aerospace contracts management. In his spare time, Jay became an accomplished pilot having obtained his multi-engine rating, as well as NAUI and PADI scuba licenses.

Jay and Mary met at The Bankers, a popular disco in San Bernardino, CA in the summer of 1970. Having become engaged a mere two weeks after they met they ultimately married on June 24, 1972 in San Bernardino, CA and lived in various locations throughout the country with stops in California, Ohio, Washington DC, back to California, Washington, once again back to California, Arizona, and finally upon Jay’s retirement in 2012, they settled in Williamsburg, Virginia for a well-deserved retirement. In retirement, Jay was an active member of the Williamsburg Senior Softball League (WSSL) as both teammate and umpire and used any additional spare time he had to learn to play the guitar.

Services will be held on Saturday, July 29, 2023, at 11:00 am at the Nelsen Funeral Home in Williamsburg, VA; 3785 Strawberry Plains Drive, Williamsburg, VA 23188.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The ARC of Greater Williamsburg at 150 Strawberry Plains Drive, Williamsburg, VA 23188, (757) 229-3535.