Notes for: Raphael R. Kavanaugh
Obit - Dayton Daily News (OH) - October 15, 2008
Dayton Daily News (OH) - October 15, 2008 KAVANAUGH, Raphael "Ray" Ed.D. 62, of West Lafayette, died at 6:11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, 2008, at his residence, after a 3 1/2 year battle with cancer. Born Dec. 16, 1945, in Springfield, Ohio, he was the son of the late Raphael and Harriett E. Anderton Kavanaugh. He graduated from Chaminade High School, received a doctorate of educational psychology from Temple Univ., a master's degree from Ball State Univ. and a bachelor's degree from Coe College in Iowa, where he was named an Alumni of Merit. Mr. Kavanaugh was professor and head of the department of hospitality and tourism at Purdue University for the past 11 years. Before his tenure at Purdue, he also held academic positions at the Univ. of Central Florida, Florida State and Oklahoma State; he also served as director of human resources for Red Lobster Restaurants Inc. and vice president of product development with the Educational Institute of American Hotel and Lodging Assoc. He was a Conti Distinguished Professor at Penn State Univ. and a founding fellow of the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Foundation. He was awarded the Michael E. Hurst Lifetime Achievement in Education Award, the Anthony G. Marshall Lifetime Achievement Award and multiple other awards for educational contributions. Mr. Kavanaugh was the author of more than 90 publications in his industry. He attended St. Thomas Aquinas Center, was a member of Lafayette Rotary Club and was an officer in the Air Force, serving from 1968 to 1972. His hobbies were mountain biking, scuba diving, exercising and traveling. He enjoyed work, sports, especially Purdue sports, and spending time with his family. Surviving with his wife of 32 years, Judy Rechberger, are their two sons, Ryan and Quinn; and four brothers, Tom Kavanaugh (wife: Jo Ellen), Frank Kavanaugh (wife: Karen) and John Kavanaugh (wife: Susan) all of Centerville, and Kevin Kavanaugh (wife: Tammy) of Brunswick, Ga. Memorial service 4 p.m. Wednesday, St. Thomas Aquinas Center, with St. Elizabeth Hospice Spiritual Counselor Jack Johnson officiating. Memorials to Purdue Foundation, 403 W. Wood St., West Lafayette, IN 47907, in memory of Raphael Kavanaugh, Ed.D., for the Marriott Hall Building Fund with checks made payable to Purdue Foundation.