Thomas F. Cavanaugh

Thomas Francis Cavanaugh was born in Manchester, NH on December 8th, 1924, the son of Harold and Jean (LaChance) Cavanaugh, and spent the majority of his life in his beloved towns of Manchester, NH, and York Beach, Maine among his extended family. WW II was one time that Tom was forced to be away - the first when his father rejoined the Army as a major and the family followed him to St. Louis, and the second when Tom joined the Army Air Corps and was stationed in the Pacific Theater on the island of Kwajalein. His other pride and joy was the family summer home in York Beach, Maine, which remained in the family for more than a hundred years.

Tom married Nancy Charles is February 1948. He is survived by their children: Brenda Ann, Thomas F. Jr., Jill Knowles and her husband David, Michael J. and his friend Susan, Nancy Lou Buciak and her husband Eric, and James C. Tom was predeceased by his brother, Frank.

Tom worked for and became president of Cavanaugh Bros. Motors in Manchester, which began as his grandfather's horse stable. His dealership carried the Porsche, Audi, Volkswagen and Fiat franchises, among others. Tom was on the board of directors at the New Hampshire Auto Dealers Association during the 1960's. The auto business enhanced his love of cars, his pride being his antique 1948 Ford woody station wagon, and 1931 Ford Model "A" convertible with a rumble seat. Both cars were featured in the family weddings, town parades, and funerals.

As the children grew independent, Tom and Nancy traveled the world extensively, eventually falling in love with the US Virgin Islands in the 1970s, and becoming one of the early owners of a lovely villa at The Reef in St. Croix, fondly named "Nancy's Fancy". They and their family including grandchildren and great grandchildren fell in love with the Caribbean living during the winters.

Tom loved his churches, he loved a good time and he loved his family. He was the key holder for his ancestral church, The Star of the Sea in York Beach, Maine. In September of 2001, the Centennial Jubilee was dedicated to Tom for his dedication to the Star of the Sea. He was always checking, always caring, and his presence said to all that entered the doors "Please stay, please enjoy, please be at peace" For many winters, Tom opened the doors at Holy Cross Church in Christiansted, St. Croix. Tom was also a member of The Legion of a Thousand Men at the Precious Blood Monastery in Manchester. He enjoyed chauffeuring the Sisters of the Monastery to their secular appointments, as well as volunteering at the food pantry.

When Tom was at a party, wherever he was living at the time, you didn't have to look far to find "the life of the party"! He loved to sing, he loved to dance, and he stayed forever young in all that he encountered.

Children were his passion, and his grandchildren - Richard Genest, Sean Doherty, Christian Doherty, Brenna Cavanaugh, Caitlin Manning (husband Todd), Davis Knowles, Dana Knowles, Erica Buciak, Cayleigh Buciak, his great grandchildren Calli, Indie and Wynston Genest, Finn, Bryar, Cavan and Emerson Doherty, Ella and Hailey Doherty, Lillian Tacetta, Elizabeth and Avery Manning, Jacob and James Knowles, Zion and Naiyanna Knowles, and Kailani Buciak (not to forget so many nieces and nephews) who will be told all the stories about the man who stayed young forever through his kindness and generosity, and who lived such a full life.

Many thanks to the numerous caregivers who took care of him and the wonderful loving care given by the staff of St. Teresa's Manor in Manchester, and the staff and volunteers of the Home, Health and Hospice of Merrimack.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Monday, March 2, 2015 at St. Catherine of Siena, 225 Hemlock Street, Manchester. Burial will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Precious Blood Monastery or the New Horizons Food Pantry.