John T Cavanaugh

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the sudden passing of John Thomas "Jay" Cavanaugh on March 31, 2026, in Punta Gorda, Florida.

Jay was born in Malone, NY, on December 10, 1939, to Thomas Michael and Leona (Dumas) Cavanaugh. He spent his youth on the St. Lawrence River—hunting, fishing, and boating—forming a spirit of adventure and "shenanigans" that he carried into his 86th year.

A graduate of SUNY Plattsburgh, Jay earned his Master’s in Mathematics from the Stevens Institute of Technology. He dedicated his career to teaching math, spending the majority of his tenure in the Nanuet school system. Beyond the classroom, Jay inherited his mother’s love of music and was known to sing in any setting. This passion for music led him to his wife, Norma Marie Perugini; they met while singing a duet at a wedding. They were married in New Rochelle and shared 56 years of marriage until Norma’s passing in June 2025.

Jay and Norma raised their children, Thomas and Lynne, in Armonk, NY, alongside a wide variety of family pets. In 1997, they discovered Punta Gorda, FL, where they retired shortly thereafter.

Jay was best known for his "gift of gab." He loved connecting with people, whether at a bar, restaurant or on a plane, eager to hear others' stories and share his own. An active man throughout his life, he enjoyed golf, fishing, and boating although docking remained a tense affair throughout his life. In his later years, he developed a passion for travel and took great joy in sharing photos of his adventures with everyone he met.

Jay was predeceased by his parents, his wife Norma, his beloved sister Carol Gustafson, and his brother Bill Cavanaugh. He is survived by his son Thomas Cavanaugh and daughter-in-law Holly; his daughter Lynne Cavanaugh and son-in-law Michael Garcia; and his six grandchildren: Jessica Jones, Thomas, John Thomas (JT), and Caroline Cavanaugh, and Ana and Ella Garcia two sisters, Mary Dement and Peg Kennedy. He also leaves behind many beloved nieces, nephews, and extended family members. He will be sorely missed by all those that knew him.