Stephen Wendel Cavanaugh

Our husband and father passed away Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2006, after a short, courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Many knew him not only as the former CEO of LWCC, but as the guitar enthusiast, pool aficionado, humorist and birder. He packed a lifetime's worth of living into his brief 55 years, and he deeply influenced our lives with his poignant recitations, incredible gift of memory, vast knowledge of seemingly all things, quest for truth, unwavering integrity, keen interest in people and their life stories, love of tradition, inspirational speeches, and mind-tingling conversation. And it was that he chose to share his life explorations and understandings that connected us so entirely to him. He did this to the last with his open invitations to porch conversations -- perhaps a final lesson that what matters in life are the rich relationships you have with one another. We, his wife, Becky Delapasse Cavanaugh; daughter, Lauren Cavanaugh; son and daughter-in-law, Chris and Annie Labbé Cavanaugh; brother and his wife, Michael and Carolyn Cavanaugh; and brother and his partner, Wil Cavanaugh and Chuck Saunders, would like to thank all the family members who gathered around us on night one and the days following; the friends and family who visited, cooked, and offered so much love and support; the doctors and nurses at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center who diligently tried to give him a longer life; and Hospice of Baton Rouge for caring for and guiding us all through this end journey. We will be forever grateful. He was predeceased by his parents,Avonand Norrene Cavanaugh; by his sister, Carole Pollock; and by his mother-in-law, Betty Lou Delapasse. Visitation at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government St., was on Friday, Nov. 17, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Visiting at University Baptist Church, 203 Leeward Drive, on Saturday, Nov. 18, from 8 a.m. until religious service at 9:30 a.m. Burial immediately following in Grace Memorial Park Cemetery in Plaquemine. Pallbearers will be L.M. Comeaux, Robert Levy, Jesse Landry, Mickey Delapasse, Al Devillier, Rocky Pollock, Stevie Kiffe and David Bondy. Honorary pallbearers are Dr. Anthony Ioppolo, Michael G. Manes, former Gov. Mike Foster, former Gov. Buddy Roemer, Aubrey T. Temple, John Warner Smith and David Daniel. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Stephen W. Cavanaugh Scholarship Fund. Checks should be payable to the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, 402 N. 4th St., Baton Rouge, LA 70802, with a notation that donation is for the fund.