James Joseph Cavanaugh
November 9, 1927 ~ February 27, 2023
James Joseph Cavanaugh passed away peacefully in his Vienna, Virginia home on February 27, 2023. Born November 9, 1927, in St. Louis, Michigan to parents Joseph Patrick Cavanaugh and Adele Frances Taggart, he is preceded in death by his brother Tom Cavanaugh and his sister Jean Rambo.
A life-long devout Catholic, he grew up in Michigan, earned a degree in English from the University of Detroit, then went on to earn his Juris Doctor from Harvard. After graduating from Harvard, he served in the Army during the Korean War. Upon his honorable discharge, his commanding officer expressed his sincere appreciation for his exemplary service.
He was with the University of Notre Dame and Michigan State University before joining the U.S. Treasury Department, where he remained until retirement. He then worked part time for the College of Financial Planning for several years before fully retiring.
Jim met his wife, Marilynn O’Boyle, in Washington, D.C. while they both served on a task force for the Treasury Department. He always enjoyed telling the story of how he met his wife and how lucky he felt to have married her. They celebrated 48 wonderful years of marriage in December 2022.
Jim and Marilynn have two children, their son, Joseph (wife Sarah) Cavanaugh and daughter, Carolynn (husband Juan) Nuñez, and four grandchildren, James, Audrey, Juan José, and Evelynn.
He cared deeply for his entire family. He supported and cared for his parents until their deaths and was a dedicated uncle to his many nieces and nephews. He took the time to nurture and encourage those around him.
Jim was an avid reader, writer, and thinker and could often be found behind a newspaper with a cup of black coffee next to him. He loved his country and was proud of his service. He supported many charities throughout his life. He never complained and lived his life with quiet dignity and bravery. He will be incomprehensibly missed.
Services will be held Friday, March 10, 2023, at 11 am at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, 8601 Wolftrap Road SE, Vienna, VA 22182. Interment at Conrad Cemetery in Kalispell, Montana at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to any of the following or to the charity of your choice:
• Jean Rambo Scholarship Fund
• Little Sisters of the Poor
• Chesapeake Bay Foundation
A life-long devout Catholic, he grew up in Michigan, earned a degree in English from the University of Detroit, then went on to earn his Juris Doctor from Harvard. After graduating from Harvard, he served in the Army during the Korean War. Upon his honorable discharge, his commanding officer expressed his sincere appreciation for his exemplary service.
He was with the University of Notre Dame and Michigan State University before joining the U.S. Treasury Department, where he remained until retirement. He then worked part time for the College of Financial Planning for several years before fully retiring.
Jim met his wife, Marilynn O’Boyle, in Washington, D.C. while they both served on a task force for the Treasury Department. He always enjoyed telling the story of how he met his wife and how lucky he felt to have married her. They celebrated 48 wonderful years of marriage in December 2022.
Jim and Marilynn have two children, their son, Joseph (wife Sarah) Cavanaugh and daughter, Carolynn (husband Juan) Nuñez, and four grandchildren, James, Audrey, Juan José, and Evelynn.
He cared deeply for his entire family. He supported and cared for his parents until their deaths and was a dedicated uncle to his many nieces and nephews. He took the time to nurture and encourage those around him.
Jim was an avid reader, writer, and thinker and could often be found behind a newspaper with a cup of black coffee next to him. He loved his country and was proud of his service. He supported many charities throughout his life. He never complained and lived his life with quiet dignity and bravery. He will be incomprehensibly missed.
Services will be held Friday, March 10, 2023, at 11 am at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, 8601 Wolftrap Road SE, Vienna, VA 22182. Interment at Conrad Cemetery in Kalispell, Montana at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to any of the following or to the charity of your choice:
• Jean Rambo Scholarship Fund
• Little Sisters of the Poor
• Chesapeake Bay Foundation
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Uncle Jim was someone I looked up to, loved, and revered. On each visit to Michigan he always took the time to connect with me. I remember him reading books to me when I was very young and being enthralled by his deep and calm voice. As a teen he made me feel full of potential and hope, having conversations with me about my interests and future plans. As a young adult, he encouraged me in my career and university choices, fostering the belief that I could do and be anything.
My favorite memories though, are our conversations about politics and current events. He was a brilliant man who had an amazing education and lived through history’s most significant events, yet he always loved to hear my opinion and thoughts. I always left our conversations with an abundance of knowledge and a feeling that I was loved.
He handled life with dignity, grace and honesty in a way that was all his own.
It was the honor of a lifetime to be his niece. I will carry his memory and legacy with me.