Francis Cavanaugh, Hall of Fame Mummer

FRAN CAVANAUGH was not a born Two Streeter, but he earned the cherished title, usually reserved for those born in that legendary South Philly neighborhood, by marching with the Mummers, his devotion to the Catholic church, his family, Notre Dame football, and by being a friend to everyone.

Fran came from faraway St. Monica's Parish, at 17th and Ritner, and didn't arrive in the 2nd Street neighborhood until 1950, when he was 20.

But his neighbors forgave him his tardiness and took him to their bosom. What else could you do with such a hearty, laughing Irishman who was always there to help anyone who needed him?

Francis Cavanaugh, a retired shop superintendent for Ernest D. Menold Inc., sheet-metal manufacturers in Lester, Delaware County, for which he worked for 37 years, died Sunday of kidney disease. He was 81.

On New Year's Day a contingent of the Froggy Carr comic club, the wench brigade with which Fran marched in the Mummers Parade for 40 years, frolicked down narrow Fitzgerald Street to serenade him.

Fran sat at the window of his home in the 300 block, wearing his wench hat and waving a parasol, just soaking up the adoration.

"It made him feel so good," said his daughter Terry Taylor.

He was a member of the Mummers Hall of Fame.

Fran retired from the sheet-metal company in 1988 to spend more time with his wife, the former Dorothy Englehart, at their second home in North Wildwood.

He and longtime friend Paul Robinson built a deck as a second living room on the house. Fran had a knack for construction work, as well as math. At the Menold company, he was famed for the precision in his work with sheet metal.

Fran met his wife in Wildwood and they were married in 1950. They moved to South Philadelphia that year. She died in 1999.

Fran was devoted to his church, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, at 3rd and Wolf streets, and attended Mass every morning. He also was active with the church's seniors group.

He was a member of the informal Eight O'Clock Club, comprised of people who made the daily 8 a.m. Mass.

"They watched out for each other," his daughter said. "If one of them didn't show up for Mass, they knew something was wrong."

Fran was such a passionate Notre Dame fan that he wore Notre Dame clothing, down to the underwear. He was also a devoted Phillies fan, and when the team traded Cliff Lee, he and his granddaughter Casey Taylor discussed the outrage.

When the team re-signed Lee, he bought Lee jerseys for himself, his granddaughter and her son, Frankie, 4 months.

Fran coached Little League football with his neighbor Harry Remshard. They were called "garbage-can coaches" because, after a game, they discussed it over their back fences where the garbage was stored.

He also coached a rough-touch football team of 20-somethings that won a championship in its league in the late '70s.

Fran was born in Philadelphia to John and Mary Cavanaugh, immigrants from Ireland. They both came from County Wexford, but met in this country.

Fran attended St. Monica's Parochial School and graduated from the former Southeast Catholic High School for Boys in 1947.

He was a member of the swimming team which, because of a shortage of funding from the Archdiocese, had to practice in the nude, saving their swim suits for meets.

He swam with Joe Verdeur, of Northeast Catholic High School, who won a gold medal in swimming in the 1948 Summer Olympics, in London.

Fran was not only cherished by his own children and grandchildren, but also by their friends, all of whom called him "Pop."

"He was the go-to guy for school problems," his daughter said. "If you screwed up, the first person you talked to about it was Pop."

He also taught the kids mathematics. He was teaching his great-nephew, Patrick Banning, 13, a seventh-grader at Sacred Heart Parochial School, until November, when Fran couldn't do it anymore.

"Patrick came every day and even after Dad became sick, Patrick kept coming every day to see him," Terry said.

Even when Fran could barely walk, he insisted on watching Patrick play with the church team, the Warriors.

"He would get a ride to the field and stand in the end zone at least for half the game," his daughter said.

Fran had one simple formula for living a happy life: Turn everything over to God.

"He felt that anything you needed, turn it over to God," Terry said. "Get up in the morning and turn it over, then you're not by yourself anymore."

Fran also is survived by another daughter, Patricia Evans; two sons, Edward Cavanaugh and Francis Cavanaugh Jr.; nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Services: Funeral Mass 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, 3rd and Wolf streets. Friends may call at 7 p.m. tomorrow at the Murphy-Ruffenach Funeral Home, 3rd and Wolf streets. Burial will be in Ss. Peter & Paul Cemetery, Marple.