Leo F. "Bud" Kavanaugh, Jr., 83, of Dartmouth, died Monday May 16, 2005 at Our Lady's Haven in Fairhaven after a brief illness. He was the husband of Therese P. (Cayer) Kavanaugh, whom he married in 1948.
Born in New Bedford on August 8, 1921, he was the son of the late Leo F. and Agnes (Hoye) Kavanaugh. He was a graduate of New Bedford High School, attended Colby College in Maine, and was a graduate of Pennsylvania College of Optometry.
Mr. Kavanaugh entered the U.S. Army during World War II, and was stationed at Camp Grant in Illinois, where he practiced optometry throughout his service years.
He and his brother James operated the Keystone, a family business for over sixty years. Following his retirement from the Keystone, he joined the office of Gardner Realty where he was a broker for several years.
Mr. Kavanaugh was a founding member of the Waterfront Historic Area League (WHALE), whose projects he followed with interest long after he retired. He also served on the New Bedford Free Public Library Board of Trustees and the New Bedford Child and Family Services Board of Directors. He was a member of the Downtown Merchants Association in New Bedford, and was a Town Meeting member and Library Board member in Dartmouth.
Growing up, he spent his summers racing Beetle Cat sailboats on Buzzards Bay and maintained an interest in sailing and boats long into his life. His greatest interests were history and music, particularly jazz. His favorite travel destination was Ireland, where he visited several times.
Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Lee Kavanaugh Waterman, and her husband Stanley Waterman, of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Mimi Kavanaugh Powell, and her husband Samuel W. Powell, and Susan Kavanaugh White, and her husband Howard A. White, all of Dartmouth; a son, Leo F. Kavanaugh III, and his wife Catherine Atkin Kavanaugh, of Stockbridge; four grandchildren, Nate Powell, Simon White, Eli Powell, and Leo F. Kavanaugh IV; and many nieces and nephews.
He was the brother of the late James F. Kavanaugh and Dorothy Kavanaugh McHugh.
His Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Friday May 20, 2005 at 11 AM in St. Mary's Church, South Dartmouth. A private family burial service will be held. His family will receive visitors at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford, Thursday May 19, 2005 from 4-7 PM. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to W.H.A.L.E., 13 Hamilton St., New Bedford, MA 02740.