James Vincent Kavanaugh

James Vincent Kavanaugh died peacefully at home in Seattle on July 29, 2025, surrounded by family. He was born on a cold February day in 1927 in Lewiston, Idaho, the youngest child of six of Lena Grace Short Kavanaugh and Gerald Vincent Kavanaugh.

Along with his brothers and sisters, Jim grew up in Lewiston, attending St. Stanislas elementary school and then Lewiston High School, graduating in 1944. In 1945, he joined the U.S Navy; serving until 1946, he helped clear mines from Tokyo Bay. With support from the G.I. Bill, Jim first attended Lewis-Clark State College, and then in 1953 graduated from the University of Idaho.

He learned early on the value of work, and beginning with a paper route and door-to-door magazine sales, he worked a wide variety of jobs in his early years; these included dish-washing at Hanford during high-school summers, manual labor in a presto-log factory, a shoe repair shop, and a lumber mill, driving a taxi in Lewiston and managing payroll for a construction company. He noted that at one time he had two day-jobs and one night-job so that he would be “too tired to go out and spend the money I just made”. Soon after college he moved in with his oldest brother Larry and his family in Seattle and began work at Boeing. He stayed with Boeing for the rest of his career, working in both the military and commercial branches of the company, retiring at age 64. He enjoyed traveling to England, Ireland, Japan, Pakistan and Indonesia as part of his job administering Boeing contracts.

At a party for singles, Jim met an interesting and bright woman with a great smile, Marilyn. They dated, exploring Seattle and meeting each other's families, and wed at St. James Cathedral on November 8th, 1958. They welcomed two children in Seattle, living in a house near the airport. When Boeing’s contract with the Air Force to build the Minuteman missile system took the young family to first Missouri and then North Dakota, they gamely moved, making life-long friends along the way and having two more kids. They returned home to Seattle in 1967, and in 1968 had their fifth child. This year they also bought the house on Capitol Hill where they would host countless family parties, celebrations, and welcome the world. Jim and Marilyn were married for 64 years, and both lived in the house until their deaths, Marilyn dying in 2022.

The Roanoke Park neighborhood was a treasure trove of families who became not just neighbors but dear friends. In addition, the house was near St. Patrick’s Church, which Jim and Marilyn attended and where they were active and life-long parishioners; Jim served on various committees including finance and marriage encounter. They made wonderful friends at the church, and often hosted priests and nuns for meals and family masses at the house.

Jim was an athlete all his life; badly breaking both legs in a car wreck at 22 and three knee replacements merely inspired him. He played tennis until his early 90s, commuted by bike 25 miles in his 50s and 60s, was a Capitol Hill Soccer referee, and played pick-up basketball with friends. He fully supported his children’s athletic endeavors too, attending myriad soccer games (sometimes having to divide and conquer on busy weekends, with Marilyn cheering on one game and him the other) to boomerang tournaments, to bike rides. He kept walking and climbing the house stairs for exercise well into his 90’s and didn’t think heart failure was any excuse to slow down.

Jim was a devoted friend, staying in touch with buddies from high school, college, church, neighborhood and tennis. Marilyn’s KD sorority sisters and their families became his friends as well, and their Apple Cup parties at the house were legendary. Visiting, hosting and traveling with friends was a great joy in retirement. He and Marilyn welcomed friends, siblings, nieces and nephews and their children to their home for holiday and birthday parties (and any other excuse for a celebration).

In addition to his wife, Jim was preceded in death by brothers Lawrence, Edward and Joseph Kavanaugh and sisters Eileen Etter and Kathleen Kavanaugh.

He is survived by his children Susan Kavanaugh, Katie Kavanaugh Pauly, Elizabeth Kavanaugh, Barbara Kavanaugh, and Steven Kavanaugh, their partners, nine grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. They will treasure his guidance, care, and memory always.

The family wishes to thank Cipriana Peralta who, in their last years, provided such loving care for Marilyn and Jim and their home. A Funeral will be held October 2nd at 10 AM at St. Joseph Church in Seattle. Donations can be made to the Wallingford Senior Center and St. Joseph Church Music Ministry.