William John Kavanah

William John Kavanah passed away on October 1, 2022 at the Maine Veterans’ Home of Augusta at the age of 90. Until recently he had been a resident of Granite Hill Estates in Hallowell, ME for 17 years.

Bill was born in Manhattan on January 3, 1932. He lived for a time in Yonkers, NY with his mother, grandfather, uncle, and step-grandmother. He moved to New Rochelle, NY in 1937 and attended Saint Gabriel’s Grammar School, where he established lifelong friendships and later proudly served on the 40 ^th reunion committee. He attended Blessed Sacrament High School (where he was known as “Curly” by his closest friends), graduating in 1949. In January 1950, Bill went to work at Arthur Gavrin Press as an apprentice pressman.

In May 1951, Bill enlisted in the U.S. Navy to go to sea and completed boot camp in Newport, RI.  He then went to printer’s school in Norfolk, VA and was ordered to the destroyer tender USS Everglades AD24, aboard which he served with the Atlantic and Sixth Mediterranean fleets. His ship was involved in NATO’s first Navy operation “Operation Long Step” which involved all of the NATO fleets. During his time in the Navy he had opportunities to go ashore in Great Britain, France, Greece, Turkey and Spain. He enjoyed his time at sea and in the service. He was honorably discharged in 1953 as a petty officer third class.

Bill married Kathleen McPherson on September 24, 1955. They lived in New Rochelle for 50 years and were parishioners at Blessed Sacrament Church, where he was a member of the Knights of Columbus and faithfully prepared bacon and scrambled eggs for countless communion breakfasts. His reliable nature made him the “go to” guy among the neighbors in his apartment building. He worked as a skilled pressman on Long Island and Mamaroneck for over 35 years and served as a shop steward in the Pressman’s Union.

Bill was predeceased by his wife Kathleen in 2010 after 55 years of marriage. He is survived by his son Kevin Kavanah and Cecilia of Great Barrington, MA (Claire, Maura, Deirdre, Brendan), son Brian Kavanah and Theresa of Readfield, ME (Grace, Camille), daughter Michaela Kavanah-Koehn and Rod of Wilton, ME, and daughter Christine Morris and Jim (Fiona, Annabeth, John) of Rochester, NY.

Bill enjoyed annual family vacations to Maine and Canada, his trips with Kathleen to Ireland and Scotland, and time spent with old friends. He was well read on many subjects, had a penchant for reciting poems he memorized in elementary school as well as excerpts from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, and was a devoted follower of the Prince Valiant comic strip. He was a naturally gifted storyteller and could command a room with his strong baritone voice. He followed closely the news of the day and the financial markets, reveled in the New York Rangers Stanley Cup victory and referred to himself as “an unreconstructed Brooklyn Dodgers fan”. He had a strong work ethic, often working overtime and holding two jobs to provide for his family. He was most of all a family man. He was an extremely devoted and loving husband, a supportive and loving father, and took great pride and interest in his nine grandchildren, all of whom he remembered in his daily prayers until his very last days.

SERVICES - Liturgy of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, October 8 ^th at 10:00 a.m. at St. Peter’s Church, Main Street, Great Barrington, MA, conducted by Rev. William P. Murphy.  Burial with Military Honors will follow in St. Peter’s Cemetery.

Visiting hours will be held at Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home, 426 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA on Friday, October 7 from 6-8 PM.

Donations in memory of William J. Kavanah may be made to the Maine Veterans’ Homes, 460 Civic Center Drive, Augusta, ME 04330 directly or c/o Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home, 426 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230.  Condolences may be shared via www.finnertyandstevens.com