John D. Gavan

He was born in Ludington, Mich., on April 17, 1918, the son of the late James B. and Mary (Anderson) Gavan, graduated from The University of Notre Dame (class of 1940) in South Bend, Ind.,with a bachelor of science degree in business, and studied law at Columbia University in New York City.

Radm. Gavan joined the U.S. Navy on Aug. 18, 1941, and received flight training in Glenview, Ill., and Corpus Christi, Texas. During World War II, he served in the South Pacific and the Far East as a fighter pilot with Squadron VF-12 on the USS Enterprise and USS Saratoga. After the war, he remained in the Naval Reserve, retiring in 1975 in Dallas, Texas. During his career, he made the transition from prop planes to jets, with achievements including 1,860 fighter hours, 187 carrier landings, one wing and five fighter commands. His decorations include seven Air Medals, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, one Meritorious Service Medal and one British Distinguished Service Medal for bravery and resource under fire.

It was in 1945, while in Washington, D.C., to receive the British Distinguished Service Medal at the British Embassy, that he met a young Navy WAVE, Georgia Ann Bettinghaus. They were married in Wilmette, Ill., on Dec. 28, 1946, and had three daughters.

At the end of the war, Radm. Gavan began his more than 30-year business career with the Connecticut General Life Insurance Company (now Cigna), in positions from sales agent to multi-state regional manager. After his retirement from the Navy and the business community, he and his wife traveled the world.

He also was active in many civic and social organizations, including the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, the Charlotte Choral Society, the Lions Club of Charlotte, the Churchmen, the U.S. Navy League – Mayport Council, the Naval Reserve Association, The Naval Aviation Museum Foundation, The Association of Naval Aviation and The Naval Order of the United States. In 1990, he served as the general chairman of the commissioning committee for the USS Monterey (CG-61).

Radm. Gavan is survived by his daughter Barbara Gavan of Jacksonville and his daughter and son-in-law Maureen and David Jobes of Boston, Mass., and Nebo, N.C. He was predeceased by his wife of nearly 69 years, who died two months earlier, by his parents, his brothers James A. and Eugene J. Gavan and his youngest daughter Kathleen Knox Gavan.

A funeral Mass will be held on Monday, Oct. 19, at 1 p.m. at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., with Father Santhosh Syriac officiating. The family invites those attending the service to wear green, if they wish, in honor of Radm. Gavan’s Irish heritage and his beloved Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Burial will be held at Jacksonville National Cemetery at a later date.

The family also sends special thanks to his caregivers Mary Duren, Anthony Paul Lawson, Alexandra Baysmore, Jean Bloom, Kate Mohajeri and Christina Smith, to Dr. Louis Akra and his staff, to Teresa Coleman, and to Community Hospice of Northeast Florida.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Radm. Gavan’s memory to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society and Community Hospice of Northeast Florida. Arrangements are under the direction of HARDAGE-GIDDENS FUNERAL HOME, 1701 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville Beach, FL.