I received word that Pat Turner Kavanaugh died Saturday. Besides being the first public information officer to serve the city in the 1980s, Pat was involved in many other aspects of life in the Queen City. I don't know all her titles, but she worked with the YMCA, the Friends of Sleepy Hollow and the Plainfield League of Women Voters, among other organizations. She was a fierce fighter for causes she believed in and a tenacious advocate for Plainfield. She liked to get things done.
She had an appetite for adventure that took her all over the world and maybe that's what gave her the energy to come back and tackle problems in her hometown. If at times she seemed brusque, it was probably because she was in a hurry to get results.
Pat gave of herself in many ways. She saw old friends through hard times brought on by aging or ill health, matter-of-factly taking on tasks they could no longer perform.
She will be missed by many, many individuals and groups who benefited from her willingness to help out, whether it was driving someone to a meeting or publicizing events. The best celebration of her life would be simply to emulate her engagement in civic affairs, and to keep the wheels turning, in her name.
--Bernice
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... met her at a couple of YMCA functions... what a nice dedicated lady... my condolences to her family
ReplyDeleteShe had a great voice for what she believed in. She will be missed by many.
ReplyDeletePat was a lovely person to know and always pleasant to talk to. She will be missed.
ReplyDeletePat was a no-nonsense person who always voiced her objections to B...S... and was always willing to help others. She was a great person and we will miss her.
ReplyDeleteGOD Bless you Pat!! I am glad that I had an opportunity to meet you while you were here.
ReplyDeleteOur prayers are with you, your family and friends.
You missed one of Pat's credentials - she was a public official, as well as serving private and community organizations. She served as a member of the Historic Preservation Commission, for I believe the last 10 or 11 years. She went to properties for site condition determinations, which some of us do when needed to reduce inconvenience to property owners. She participated actively, even when her physical condition barely allowed. She even knew how to stand up to me. And the community has Pat to thank for the fact that Lampkin House (the ancient house on Terrill Road near Whitewood) has never been torn down, while plans are made for its preservation and repair - that was her special project. As a fellow Commissioner I will miss her terribly.
ReplyDeleteMy last memory of Pat Kavanaugh is of her cheering the bikers on as they set off to ride up and down the streets of Plainfield during the recent YMCA Motorcycle event on an extremely warm Sunday fall day, while she sat at the registration table with her sunglasses on. She told me the sign ups were less than last year, but it was still a good turn out.
ReplyDeleteWell, I now cheer you on Pat as you soar through your unending spiritual journey, which can be known as LIFE after death.
My condolences to Pat's family and friends. She will be missed but not forgotten.
CP
Pat was a wonderful friend to my mother, Barbara Sandford. She visited all the time, drove her after mom gave up her license, enjoyed symphonies and lunches and a glass of wine...maybe glasses...in the evening. They had a lot of fun together. Both were active, intellectually curious, passionate about Plainfield and all its citizens, and definitely told you what they were thinking. Pat picked up mom's kids (me too) at Newark airport and then drove us back. We could count on her to let us know all about mom. And all of us enjoyed being with her. She made frequent trips to mom's NH home, including just as mom was leaving us. An amazing person. A world-traveler. An incredibly hard worker at any task she undertook. Goodby Pat. We'll miss you.
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