Michael Patrick Cavanaugh

Michael Patrick Cavanaugh

Was born on March 18, 1949 in Costa Mesa, California, to Dudley Wayne Cavanaugh and Jeanne Marie Cavanaugh. He passed away peacefully on October 4, 2012 at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, California. He grew up in Costa Mesa and attended Costa Mesa High School and Orange Coast College.

After leaving school Michael decided to travel the world. He and his friend Jerry set off for their travels and they spent the next year and a half backpacking through Europe and Asia. They worked at various jobs while traveling and they had good times and hard times but they were able to see so many of the wonders of the world, wonders that no longer exist and wonders that people will never be able to see again. They traveled to countries that you can no longer travel to and met and made friends with many people from all over the world. The day after they returned home from their travels Michael met Alexis Linda Ting who he later married on August 30, 1975 and they had a beautiful life together.

Michael began his career in his father’s landscaping business and eventually built his own business as a landscape contractor. He worked his entire life in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa and he loved his job and his clients, he was able to spend his days with beauty and nature. He never lost his love of travel and he continued to travel the world with his wife for as long as he could, taking her places she never thought she would see and they built many memories together.

Michael was a kind man and a man with great strength of character. He spent many years battling illnesses and undergoing surgeries that we did not think he would survive but he did - with the help of his wife, his family, his friends and his wonderful doctors and he did it so he would not let us down. He was our “miracle man” and we have been blessed that we had him for so long.

The following is a memory from his wife:

“Right before Michael passed away I was holding his hand and talking to him in the hospital although I’m not sure if he heard me but I hope he did. We were on the 7th floor and I glanced out of the window and saw a hawk gliding above the east tower at Hoag, then it came in and swooped around and around inside the area between the two towers and came right by our window. I told Michael that there was a beautiful hawk flying right outside and when I looked back down at Mike, he was gone. Just like that. Then the hawk flew by our window again and then up and away. I felt as though Michael had his wings and was soaring. It was an amazing sight.

I will always thing of Michael flying above, free from pain and fear and able to travel again without the awful illnesses that he had holding him back.”

He leaves his wife Alexis Cavanaugh and her family, his brothers Bob and Tim Cavanaugh and their families and so very many friends behind. We miss him.

A celebration of life will be held. Please e-mail Lexi Cavanaugh at cavaland@ix.netcom.com for information.