Thomas R. “Tom” Cavanaugh, 96, of Navarre Beach, Florida, passed away on Nov. 14, 2019.

Tom was born on July 19, 1923 in Danville, Illinois. He was the son of Hazel B. and Harry Cavanaugh. He was preceded in death by his mother and father and his brother Jack Cavanaugh, formerly of Ridge Farm, Illinois. He is survived by his nephews James A. Cavanaugh of Wonder Lake, Illinois, Richard Cavanaugh of Enfield, Connecticut, Robert Cavanaugh of Green Bay, Wisconsin and William Cavanaugh of Batavia, Illinois.

Tom grew up in Danville, Illinois and graduated from Danville High School in 1940. He served in the military in World War II for 33 months with the 448th Military Police in Iceland (1943-1945).

Tom attended the University of Illinois and graduated in 1947 with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts and in 1950 with a master’s in fine arts with awards in painting and art history. He also attended the Farnsworth School of Art in 1946 and the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in 1948. He received three fellowships including a McLellan fellowship from U of I 1950, a Fulbright Award for Painting 1956 and was a MacDowell Colony Fellow in 1973

Over the years Tom worked at the Springfield Illinois Art Assn as art director, was on the faculty at the Kansas City Art Institute, on the faculty of painting and drawing at Washington University in St. Louis and spent the majority of his career at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. He taught at LSU from 1957-1983, was a full professor, acting chairman of the School of Arts in 1975, he served as the director of painting and drawing for the School of Fine Arts for 16 years and was a Professor Emeritus Retired, LSU.

Tom also was the director and owner of the Bay Street Studio in Boothbay Harbor, Maine for over 60 years. Bay Street Studio was founded in 1950 and was a summer workshop and lodge for artists and writers. The Bay Street Studio was a retreat where like minds could get together to relax and work, it included a painting studio, art supplies and an antique store. The Studio was truly an eclectic and enjoyable atmosphere that guests returned to year after year.

Tom was an accomplished painter in his own right and created in many mediums. He exhibited in over 160 regional, national and invited shows since 1947 and won many awards. He exhibited in 20 one man shows and had works exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art NYC, the Whitney Museum of Art NYC, and the Corcoran Biennials in Washington, D.C.. Tom was represented in the 1975 edition of America’s Who’s Who in American Arts and was included annually from 1982-2002. He either wrote or co-wrote two books, had works published in five periodicals and has works in over a dozen public collections including the University of Illinois, New Orleans Museum of Art, Louisiana State University and Mead Paper Company and many private collections across the county.

Tom learned the piano by ear and played daily. He loved the movies, art and music from the early 20th century and collected many pictures, art pieces and recordings from that era. Tom could be the life of the party one minute, switch to a deadly serious conversation the next and really hated to lose at cards. He will be sorely missed by his family and friends.