M. Joseph Cavanaugh, Botsford

Fire Co. Veteran, Dies At 75

M. Joseph Cavanaugh, 75, deputy fire marshal for the Town of Newtown, died suddenly March 17 in Danbury Hospital. Mr Cavanaugh was the husband of Rosemarie (Kilbride) Cavanaugh and resided at 13 High Bridge Road in the Botsford section of Newtown.

He was born in Bridgeport, April 25, 1924, a son of the late James and Anna (Lang) Cavanaugh. He was a lifelong resident of Newtown and graduated from Newtown High School, Class of 1943.

Mr Cavanaugh was a charter member of the United Fire Company of Botsford. After World War II, he was one of a group of residents of Botsford who saw a need for increased fire protection in the area. Throughout the years he held a number of positions in the Fire Company, including chief and president. He served on numerous committees for the purchase of fire trucks and the building and later expansion of the firehouse. He was currently a trustee of the Fire Company.

In 1968, Mr Cavanaugh was appointed deputy fire marshal by the Newtown Board of Fire Commissioners, a position he held continuously for more than 31 years.

Mr Cavanaugh was one of the first coaches of the Newtown Little League. He was a lifelong communicant of St Rose of Lima Church.

In addition to his wife, Mr Cavanaugh is survived by four sons, Michael J., Jr, of New Fairfield, William P. of Botsford, Thomas J. of Wayland, Mass., and David J. of Newtown; two daughters, Patricia Cantert of Newtown and Joan (Cavanaugh) Catts of Barrington, N.J.; a sister, Marie Brown of Bethany; 15 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Funeral services were held March 20 from the Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown, and in St Rose of Lima Church for a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment was in St Rose Cemetery.

Contributions in his memory may be made to St Rose of Lima Church Memorial Fund, 46 Church Hill Road, Newtown, CT 06470, or to the United Fire Company of Botsford, PO Box 335, Botsford, CT 06404.

The Newtown Bee         March 24, 2000