Pat Cavanaugh, a former professor and department head
of EMU's former department of health, physical recreation,
education and dance from 1968-1994, passed away Jan. 23.
He was 87.
Cavanaugh taught at EMU from 1968 until his retirement
in 1994.
"Pat hired me in 1981 and was my department head until
1993," said Michael Paciorek, an EMU professor of
health promotion and human performance. "I will always
remember him as a passionate advocate for his faculty and
department. He was a philosopher who was very good at articulating
his positions to others. He was not afraid of change and
actually merged the women's and men's physical education
programs into one program."
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| Cavanaugh |
"Pat Cavanaugh was my best friend and mentor. He
used his years spent in the Marine Corps in leadership
positions and carried that over to his leadership — firm,
but fair — in the Department of HPERD," said
John E. Sheard, a former EMU professor from 1963-2005. "He
was well ahead of the times in his program development,
and added several new ones that fit the needs of people.
In 25 years, he did not have a grievance filed against
him, even after making difficult personnel changes. He
worked for his faculty and was at odds many times with
higher administrators."
After graduating high school in 1941, Cavanaugh received
a contract to play professional minor league baseball for
the Cleveland Indians. With the start of World War II,
he joined the Marine Corps and enrolled in the V-12 program
at the University of Detroit from 1942-43 and at Oberlin
College from 1943-44. He then served active duty in Okinawa,
Japan; and China. After the war, he returned to Oberlin
and received his bachelor's degree in arts in 1948.
While at Oberlin, Cavanaugh earned three letters in baseball,
two letters in basketball and one in football. He was co-captain
of the 1948 baseball team, batted .413, had a pitching
record of 5-2 and received the A.G. Cummings Award for
his play as an outfielder and pitcher. Cavanaugh was inducted
into Oberlin College's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1991.
From 1953-65, he was the chairman of the physical education
department at the University of Detroit. From 1957-63,
he also served as assistant baseball coach and associate
athletic director there.
An avid sports enthusiast, he worked as a sports broadcaster
for Channel 56 in Detroit from 1956-60.
Cavanaugh received his doctorate of philosophy and master's
degree from the University of Michigan.
Before coming to EMU, Cavanaugh was an associate professor
in the Universityof Detroit's Division of Teacher Education
from 1966-68. While there, he also served as division director
and later as chairman when it became the department of
education.
Cavanaugh served on the Board of Directors of the American
Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation;
was a former president ad secretary of the Michigan Association
for Health, Physical Education and Recreation; and received
that organization's Distinguished Service Award. In 1981,
he was awarded with the Midwest District of the American
Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and
Dance's Honor Award. The award is the highest citation
of merit bestowed by the Midwest District to one of its
members. Cavanaugh served on numerous Alliance committees
through the years.
He also received the Governor's "Outstanding Teaching
Award" from the state of Michigan in 1962.
In 1975, he was invited to visit the Dominican Republic
to study recreational needs and recommend a national organization
plan. The study and recommendations were then submitted
to the Secretary of State of the Dominican Republic.
After he retired in 1994, Cavanaugh was granted emeritus
status.
Cavanaugh is survived by his wife, Virginia; three daughters,
Kathleen Tibbits, Anne Groves
and Mary Hurley; three sons, Kevin Cavanaugh,
David Cavanaugh and Christopher Cavanaugh; a brother, James
Cavanaugh; 18 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
