It is with great sadness that I have to post the following that a friend of Jim, kindly sent to me. Since I have had the greatest of fortunes to have known both Jim and Bob quite well it brings a smile to my mind to remember them both at this time in true Irish Wake fashion - with a song and an Irish Whiskey or two.

Never one to shy away from speaking his mind, Dr. James Kavanaugh was an extremely intelligent, articulate, and passionate man. He naturally drew others to himself as he just had a certain something about him that left others intrigued to know him better. Jim was an ordained priest and a natural teacher who effortlessly shared his knowledge without others realizing they were even being taught. Always one to do things his way, Jim carved his own path along his life’s journey that looks a bit unconventional to some, but his life is a masterfully constructed lesson in proving that anything is possible. Jim was blessed to share 12 years of his life with his true companion with whom he created precious memories too numerous to count.

The year 1928 was part of a decade of innovation and discovery within America that forever changed the face of our nation. It was a year in which Walt Disney released his first Mickey Mouse cartoon, the first color motion picture was exhibited, and Amelia Earhart made history as the first woman to fly across the Atlantic. This was also a year for celebration in the home of Frank and Hazel (Wendel) Kavanaugh as they welcomed the birth of their son, James, on September 17th. James, who was often called Jim, was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, as the middle of seven boys in his family. His parents supported their family through the insurance agency they owned in town. Jim’s mother made her boys attend church daily and tried to groom them all to become priests. Ironically, two of her seven boys did choose that for their life’s work! As a boy Jim would often hitch-hike to St. A’s from their home on Oakland Street, although they would sled down Maple Street in the winter. All of the Kavanaugh boys were highly competitive and great athletes as well.

At the young age of 14, Jim made the decision to attend the seminary in Grand Rapids. He was ordained as a priest in 1954. Jim initially served at St. Joseph, Nazareth, but his first official assignment was at the Cathedral in Lansing. He later served at St. John Vianney in Flint. During this time Jim continued his studies, eventually earning three Ph.D. Degrees in theology, religious philosophy, and physiology. A short time later, Jim found a benefactor in Flint who sponsored him, and he then went to Germany where he learned to speak German perfectly in only one month. Throughout his career Jim was a bit of a “hippy” priest who never had any problems making waves. He even wrote an article for the Washington Post entitled, “I am a Priest and I Want to be Married.” Not surprisingly, this article created a huge uproar within Catholic circles. Jim was asked to expand his thoughts into a book, which he did. The final product was a book called, A Modern Priest Looks At His Outdated Church. Jim authored this book in 1968 after he packed up his Volkswagen and drove to Mexico, although he ended up living in California.

Jim found that California suited him well so he remained there for many years. He became quite well-known there as well. Jim wrote a dozen poetry books and 24 novels, all of which were religious writings and of course, controversial as readers either loved him or hated him. Jim also taught a variety of workshops, taught at various universities, performed at numerous poetry readings, and was on all the talk shows - even The Tonight Show. People found Jim fascinating as he was extremely passionate about his beliefs, highly educated, and not afraid to share what was on his mind. He dated Goldie Hawn for a time and even dated Suzanne Somers for two years. While they were together Jim wrote Suzanne a book about love in just one weekend. This book sparked the beginning of Suzanne’s writing career. While in California Jim did PPS and some stage work, ran a publishing company, and traveled in the same circles as many celebrities. He remained in California until 1992, at which time he moved to Chicago following the death of his mother.

Eventually Jim moved to Michigan in order to be near family, which is where he found the love of his life. Her name was Cathy Markel, and she had a 15-year-old daughter with whom she was looking for a man to complete their family. During this same time, Jim was looking for a family to complete his life as well. It was March of 1997, and Cathy was a graphic designer who had just quit her job and wanted to be a cook instead. Around this same time, Jim put an ad in the paper that stated he was looking for a cook, housekeeper, graphic designer, and secretary. Cathy was a perfect fit, and from the first time they met, they never left each other’s side. They were opposites in every way and Cathy truly appreciated the ways in which Jim was a bit different from the norm. It was plain to see that their relationship just worked. She helped him design several of his pamphlets and helped take over the publishing as well.

There were many ways in which Jim and Cathy were like-minded. They loved traveling together and since Jim was such a bad driver, Cathy was always the one behind the wheel. Their travels took them out to California for six months, to New Orleans, and to Yellowstone in the winter where they ran into a herd of buffalo. They enjoyed a family trip to Ft. Meyers, Florida, and they also made a stop at Everglades National Forest since Jim was always such a lover of nature.

Dr. James Kavanaugh was a man unlike any other. He could be a bit stubborn, always stood up for the underdog, and was forever ready to speak his mind. Jim enjoyed a variety of music including Latin hymns and Georgian chants, Irish songs, and both jazz and classical music as well. Some will remember Jim for his love of nature or his weakness for cookies, but all will remember him for his generosity with both his time and his heart, and the inspiration he shared with all those near him. He will be dearly missed.

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This point in time can be a challenge or may continue to be a challenge as life can be.  Being one of the "Searchers" of life does not mean we will have THE answer to life when we need it most.  One of the common threads that run though all of the writings of Jim is that the answer comes from within and may reveal itself through the person sitting next to you on a bus or in the car next to you as you commute another day to that life sucking, dead end job from hell.  We must always remember can change our world because "Wisdom is not taught. Systems are taught. Wisdom comes from experiencing life." (from Celebrate the Sun). 

Life comes from you and life comes from me and from being grateful.

Enjoy "Who Will Make the City Joyful?" and remember it is you and it is me who will make our world a better place.

Bill
E-mail Link

 

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The writings of James Kavanaugh were a regular fixture in bookshops around North America until life for all of us seemed to move in a very different direction.  Of course this change has little to do with people, politics, business or religion except that recently, all of these individual elements are put to us in mutually exclusive, competing islands of thought. We are lead to believe that an integrated approach to life and thought is no longer allowed. The institutions we have allowed to be built in our names and in the name of progress, only rise up at the expense of our collective human characteristics and show us how very far we have drifted from real values.

We hope you will take a fresh look at the words Jim wrote so many years ago.  Come and see how these thoughts are even more important for our world today.  Allow these thoughts to once again challenge and assist us look at life with a gentleness and renewed passion so we can once again look at one another as friends and ask as Jim did in "Will you be my friend?" :  

   ...A friend

Who far beyond the feebleness of any vow or tie

Will touch the secret place where I am really I,

To know the pain of lips that plead and eyes that weep,

Who will not run away when you find me in the street  

Alone and lying mangled by my quota of defeats

But will stop and stay to tell me of another day

When I was beautiful.

Will you be my friend?

There are so many reasons why you never should ...

So come in and look around, drop into our bookshop - but please excuse us while we continue to get the books up on the shelves. 

Enjoy a good read and let us know how we can do better.

Drop me a line and let me know what you think of the site or just to give us your ideas.

We will work hard to activate all of the links over the coming weeks.  

Thanks for your visit.