Fox Chapel accountant ‘set the bar for all of us’
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Robert Kavanaugh’s list of employers has only one entry.
After graduating from Boston College in 1958 with a degree in accounting, Mr. Kavanaugh joined the Arthur Andersen accounting firm, where he remained throughout his entire 38year career including the last 19 as managing partner of the Pittsburgh office.
But that barely begins to cover his contributions to the Pittsburgh community.
Mr. Kavanaugh, who died Thursday in Duxbury, Mass. at age 79, served on boards for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Carlow College and Shady Side Academy, and was director of United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania and Inroads/Pittsburgh, which helps place minority students in business and corporate positions.
He also was treasurer for the Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce, the Ireland Fund-Pittsburgh, and Fox Chapel Borough, and was finance chairman for the Fox Chapel Racquet Club and St. Edward Church in Blawnox.
“He wasn’t on boards just to be on boards,” said Mr. Kavanaugh’s son, Thomas of Weston, Conn. “He believed that was just what you do.”
Thomas said his father “was your classic dad trying to make the kids’ events in the afternoon,” after which he would often head back to the office or some organization’s board meeting. His father considered it important to give of his time, to family and community.
“One of my friends told me, ‘Your dad set the bar for all of us.’ He was truly special.”
Nick Constantakis, a partner at Arthur Andersen with Mr. Kavanaugh, recalled his colleague as “a strong leader and good mentor to our people. He took the high road on everything; no shortcuts, no game-playing.”
There were some long days and long weeks, especially during the busy January-March period, Mr. Constantakis said, but at the same time, “Bob wanted to make sure you spent time with your family, too.”
Mr. Kavanaugh retired from Arthur Andersen in the late 1990s, then served on the board for Matthews International from 1998-2007. He and Claire, his wife of 46 years, later moved back to the Boston area, where much of their extended family resides.
In addition to his wife and son, Mr. Kavanaugh is survived by another son, Andrew Kavanaugh of Brookline, Mass., a daughter, Deirdre Kavanaugh of Portland, Maine.; brothers Kenneth Kavanaugh of West Roxbury, Mass., Edward Kavanaugh of Reading, Mass., Douglas Kavanaugh of Kissimmee, Fla., Stephen Kavanaugh of Mashpee, Mass., Kevin Kavanaugh of Hull, Mass. and John Kavanaugh of Dennis, Mass.; sisters Elaine Lang and Marie Bolwell of Braintree, Mass., and Carol Kavanaugh of Hull, Mass.
The funeral service was held Tuesday in Duxbury, Mass. The family requests that memorial donations be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association, 912 Killian Hill Road S.W., Lilburn, GA, 30047, or by visiting its website, https:// www.lbda.org/donate.