William “Bill” Cavanaugh

William “Bill” Cavanaugh, 93, died peacefully surrounded by his children on April 29, 2026, at Mt. Carmel East Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Bill lived the rich life of a writer and storyteller devoted to his family, friends, and faith.

The proud Irish American son of James Leo and Mary Colette (Hines) Cavanaugh, Bill was born December 18, 1932, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. He carried the love of his hometown throughout his life.

Bill is survived by his children, John Leo (Sarah Colson) Cavanaugh of Oberlin, OH; Mary (Mike) Thompson of Dublin, OH; and Peg Cavanaugh of Woodbury, MN. “Pop-Pop” also leaves seven grandchildren – Katherine, Sophia and Nora (Teo Rocchiccioli) Cavanaugh, Madeleine and William Thompson, and Drew and Leo Klitzke.

His beloved wife Margaret “Marjo” (King) Cavanaugh died in 2014 after 54 years of marriage. Bill is also preceded in death by brothers Jack, Joe and Leo and sisters Peg Cavanaugh, Mary (Cavanaugh) Grady, and Sally Cavanaugh.

Bill never stopped studying. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Pittsburgh in 1954. Following graduation, Bill fulfilled his ROTC, serving four years in the U.S. Air Force where he flew as a navigator and bombardier on the B-36 Peacemaker, noting he bombed only training flight targets.

Following his Air Force service, Bill continued his education, earning an M.A. in English from Pitt in 1959, and his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin in 1966, writing his dissertation on British author Thomas Hardy.

He spent four years teaching at Chicago’s Loyola University before joining the English Department at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, where he taught for 34 years. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

During his time at DePauw, Bill taught poetry and a popular seminar on James Joyce’s Ulysses. He and his family enjoyed research sabbaticals to Ireland, England, Austria, Italy and Scotland. He had poems published in numerous journals and wrote the college textbook, An Introduction to Poetry, in 1974.

After retiring from DePauw, Bill and Marjo moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where they enjoyed the city’s beautiful lakes, cultural institutions, conversation at Merlin’s Rest and the veterans’ discount at Haskell’s Wine and Spirits. They were active members of The Church of St. Albert the Great. Bill moved to Dublin, Ohio, in 2025.

His family will miss his cheerfulness, jokes, stories, ability to spontaneously break into song, Greek fisherman’s cap, generosity, and how he modeled devotion throughout his life.

Visitation will be held Monday, May 4, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Schoedinger Dublin, 5980 Perimeter Drive, Dublin, Ohio 43017.

The Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. Albert the Great Catholic Church, 2836 33rd Ave. South in Minneapolis on Friday, May 8, at 11:00 am CT.