Franklyn Cavignac

January 31, 1931 - January 29, 2023

SAN DIEGO — Frank Cavignac passed away peacefully in his sleep on January 29th.

Cavignac who began his life in Queens New York, moved to California when he was 10 years old. He attended Beverly Hills High School and went to UCLA where he majored in English. He was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity. His attendance at UCLA was interrupted in 1951and 52 when he served in the United States Air Force during the Korean conflict. Frank graduated in 1955. 1955 was also the year he married Helen (Happy) Wills.

After an unsuccessful attempt at selling soap, Frank found his calling in the Insurance Industry. He worked for both Fireman’s Fund and Industrial Indemnity before joining the insurance brokerage firm of Venberg and Robson which ultimately became Robson & Cavignac. Robson & Cavignac was one of the largest independent agencies in San Diego at the time. Frank counted as clients many of San Diego’s largest and best known companies and organizations including The San Diego Zoo, The Yellow Cab Company, The Old Globe Theater and Price Club. Frank was involved in industry committees and lectured on Workers Compensation, but his passion was working with clients to help them understand and manage their cost of risk and insurance. When Frank retired from Robson Cavignac

in 1987, he became the Executive Director of the Professional Liability Agents Network (PLAN). PLAN was a group of insurance brokers that Frank came to know through his affiliation with the Design Professionals Insurance Company (DPIC).

Frank collected fine wines and enjoyed traveling with Happy and his friends throughout the US and Europe. He often visited the haunts of his favorite author, Ernest Hemingway. He chaired several wine auctions and contributed his wines and raised money for several of his favorite causes which included KPBS, the San Diego Museum of Art, The Museum of Photographic Art, the Zoological Society, the Committee of 100 and The San Diego Historical Society. Frank was a season ticket holder at the San Diego Symphony and was a voracious reader. Despite very poor eye sight at the end of his life, he enjoyed books and classical music through audible and other platforms.

Frank Cavignac lived life well. He was kind, generous, successful and humble. A great parent, husband and friend to those that knew him. His sense of humor, insights, objectivity and positivity will be missed.

Frank is survived by his wife of 67 years, Happy, his sister Mitzi Nicholson, his two children, Debbie Ellis and Jeff Cavignac (Cindy Cavignac), and his 5 grandchildren, Matt Ellis, Jessica Ellis-tidwell (Matt Tidwell), Blake Cavignac, Preston Cavignac (Chelsea Cavignac) and Berkeley Cavignac. He was also blessed with 4 great grandchildren, Reese, Owen and Lainey Cavignac and Jack Tidwell.

A private Celebration of life will be held for Frank, in lieu of flowers, Frank would appreciate support for Voices For Children and The San Diego Center for the Blind.

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