William James Cavanaugh

William James Cavanaugh, known to his family and friends as Jim, was born on July 5, 1943 in Montclair, NJ to William and Nettie Cavanaugh. With a father serving in the United States Army, Jim grew up in a variety of places across the United States and even lived in Germany for three years as a child.

Eventually he and his family landed in Tucson, AZ, a place he called home and where he attended the University of Arizona for his undergraduate and graduate studies. Upon completing his MBA, he enlisted in the US Army and returned to Germany where he served for three years. When his active-duty years were completed, he transitioned to the Army Reserve and served at Fort Monroe, VA and the Pentagon retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.

In 1974, while leading a young adult group at a Catholic church in Richmond, VA, Jim met the love his life, Mary Jo. One year later they said, “I do” and thus began the adventure of a lifetime. From 1975-1984, they lived in five states and welcomed three children into the world. In 1985 they made their final move to Columbia, SC which remained their home for the next 40 years.

Outside of military and family life, Jim’s professional career reflected his commitment to serving veterans of the United States military. As a civil servant, he worked at multiple Veterans Administration hospitals across the country including the Dorn VA Hospital in Columbia where he served as the Chief Financial Officer for 27 years retiring in October 2011.

As accomplished as Jim was in his military and professional careers, the one thing he treasured more than any promotion, title, or award was his family. He was a dedicated husband, father, and grandfather and loved spending time with his crew. He and Mary Jo celebrated 51 years of marriage this year and were blessed with three children: Julie (Jonathan), Teresa (Travis), and Michael (Noelle) and nine grandchildren: Jacob, David, Marianne, Cecilia, Miriam, Christopher, Elizabeth, Kellen and Adrian.

What truly grounded Jim through all the years of his life was a deep devotion and love of his faith. He was an active and longtime member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and was also an active participant of the St. Michael’s Catholic Church community at Fort Jackson. Later in his life, he could often be found attending daily Mass or sitting in a rocking chair at home praying the Divine Mercy Novena and Chaplet.

When Jim wasn’t working, chasing kids, or at church, he was busy enjoying all that life had to offer. He loved watching sports, cheering on the University of Arizona Wildcats, or catching a local baseball game at the Columbia Fireflies stadium. He was even known to sneak in bag of salted peanuts (no boiled peanuts for this guy!) to enjoy with a beer.

When his family was young and especially after he retired, he loved to travel stateside exploring cities, touring museums, visiting wineries, and experiencing different local cultures and cuisine. In particular he held a fondness for the Southwest United States, especially Arizona where he and Mary Jo visited multiple times to marvel at the beauty of the desert, learn about local indigenous people, and partake of his favorite TexMex food.

As much as he loved traveling, home was definitely where his heart was. Date nights with Mary Jo were a frequent occurrence and ranged from simple outings like grabbing a burger and catching the latest movie to more formal dinners followed by a concert or theater performance. Sundays were reserved for kicking back in the living room recliner and reading the newspapers he couldn’t get to during the week. Later in life, he begrudgingly transitioned to reading the Washington Post online to keep up with current events.

Just about anyone who knew Jim, knew how much he enjoyed good food. In the summer he loved to grill and enjoy the sweetness of summer fruits like strawberries and peaches. In the fall the first thing on his to do list was to pick his own apples in North Carolina and drink fresh apple cider. And if you weren’t sure where he was after he left daily Mass, odds were he was at a bagel shop enjoying a late breakfast with a hot cup of coffee.

Through it all, he kept the Cavanaugh household organized and running on time. Although he often complained about yardwork, he was known throughout the neighborhood for having a meticulously kept yard. Even at 82, he was out there picking up sticks, sprucing everything up, and making sure the family home looked great.

True to his personality and life experience, Jim was grounded and levelheaded when it came to making decisions and giving advice. He always thought things through, gathered information from multiple sources, and looked at the issue at hand from all angles. If there was one guiding principle that Jim would go by, it was to put God above all else and let the rest fall into place.

It is with this understanding that we give thanks to God for the gift of Jim Cavanaugh as husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He was a blessing to many and we are grateful to carry a piece of him in our hearts always.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul at St. Joseph Catholic Church. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is a national organization with local chapters that assist individuals and families with basic needs when they have nowhere else to turn for help. The St. Joseph’s chapter focuses their efforts on weekly food distributions at the church food pantry, providing utility assistance, and supporting disaster relief efforts in other areas in the region.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul at St. Joseph Catholic Church: https://secure.myvanco.com/L-ZMR7/campaign/C-14ZA6

The Rosary and Visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 10 from 5:00 until 7:00 pm at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel.

The Funeral will be held at 10:00 am on Thursday, June 11 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.

A graveside service will follow the funeral at 12:00 pm in Ft. Jackson National Cemetery.