Beloved former Essex County Freeholder James A. Cavanaugh of Chester Twp., an extraordinary figure who succeeded on multiple fronts in life with a sense of style and energy: owner and operator of one of the most famous bars/restaurants from New York. Jersey and founder of a respected multi-million dollar real estate contracting and development company, has died. He died peacefully at his home in his sleep on June 6, at age 80, surrounded by his family and friends, after a long battle with liver disease.
Appointed to fill an unexpired freeholder term, Mr. Cavanaugh belonged to a golden era of freeholders, serving three terms, from 1987 to 1996. He served as chairman of the Public Works Committee and the Criminal/Public Safety Committee and as free owner. Vice President of the Board. Mr. Cavanaugh, an Irish and Italian American, was the Italian Tribune’s Man of the Year in 1996, the same year he marched as Grand Marshal in the Nutley St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
The son of a family that owned Cucuzzella Bakery in Newark and a 1961 graduate of Columbia High School in South Orange, Mr. Cavanaugh attended the Vale School of Real Estate and Insurance, Newark and the New Jersey State Police Academy in Sea Girt. He would serve as an undercover investigator for the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety Alcoholic Beverage Control (1967-1969).
From 1969 to 1992 he founded and managed JA Cavanaugh Contractors, one of the largest heavy earthmoving and bridge construction companies in the state. In 1992, he founded Phoenix Contractors and Developers, which he owns to this day. Mr. Cavanaugh built his company with 15 employees into a heavy construction company serving both the public and private sectors, and was an industry leader in Brownfield Development. Mr. Cavanaugh started as a restaurateur in 1979. He owned The Wedgwood, Society Hill, South Street, Argyles, Phoebe’s and Jimmy’s Haunt. In 2011, he opened the acclaimed Iron Bar/Revolution Gastro Pub in Morristown. He was proud of the nightspot that Inside New Jersey Lifestyle Magazine ranked number one. He himself designed, built and proudly decorated every detail of his restaurants.
Mr. Cavanaugh’s involvement in public and community service was considerable.
Mr. Cavanaugh, a 2010 inductee into the Essex County Democratic Committee Hall of Fame, also received the West Caldwell Democratic Committee’s Community Service Award in 1996, is a former American Cancer Society Relay for Life Chair in Morristown and is a proud member of the Public Utilities Commission and Transportation Contractors Association (UTCANJ), National Utility Builders Association (NUCA), American Highway and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), Alliance for Action of New Jersey, Associated General Contractors (AGC), Knights of Columbus, Association of Independent Business and Operating Engineers Local 825. He was an honoree of the Essex-West Hudson Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO.
He served on the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce, Greater Newark Chamber of Commerce, American Legion, Essex County Planning Board, and the Giblin and Cryan Associations. He was the Essex County Improvement Authority Project Coordinator for the Essex County Correctional Facility, Gibraltar Court Building and Bears Stadium. He was the founder of Crack Down, Inc., a non-profit anti-drug awareness organization. He was Secretary of the five-member Executive Board of the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority. He was also a member of the Essex County Board of Estimates for Colleges and Vocational Schools. He was a member of the Friends of Brian Boru, chairman of the Michael Delahunty Memorial Committee and a member of the Morris County 200 Club. He was a proud supporter of Memorial Sloan Kettering Children’s Cancer Research, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Smile Train, Boys Town, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Wounded Warriors, Disabled Veterans National Foundation, Franciscan Mission and Ann’s Shrine.
Jimmy loved his family more than anything and was dedicated to his wife and children. He loved music, specifically 1950s doo wops and Elvis. He loved to sing in the car and dance. He was generous and would help anyone in need. He was interested in learning about military history, science and space. He never stopped learning. He built an empire despite never having gone to university. He loved traveling abroad and spent summers at Lavallette Beach, where he enjoyed going to the boardwalk and playing video games with his family. He collected classic cars and loved to invite friends he grew up with from the Newark neighborhood to lunch at his restaurant and on the waterfront. His best friend, Lenny Zenatti, was like a brother to him. He had a wicked sense of humor and had a special way with people, as he could talk to anyone. He loved making his mother’s homemade sauce and meatballs, and going to restaurants, especially to eat Italian food, like Belmont Tavern. He liked sweets and he loved ice cream. He loved to play with his late dog, Izaboo. He was known for the crazy suits and ties he wore. Above all, he loved helping people and giving back whenever he could.
Mr. Cavanaugh is survived by his wife Rhea (Zelinski) and their children: Danielle Miller, her husband Mike Miller,
Joseph Cavanaugh, his wife Jen Cavanaugh, Emily Cavanaugh and Diana Christian, and their grandchildren Olivia Miller, Camille Miller, Natalie Miller, Daniel Cavanaugh and Holden Cavanaugh.
He was predeceased by his parents Joseph and Antonina (Cucuzzella) Cavanaugh.
Visitation is Tuesday from 4 to 8 pm at Tuttle Funeral Home on Route 10 in Randolph. Funeral Mass is Wednesday at 11 a.m. at St. Lawrence Catholic Church on Main Street in Chester. Mourners will head to the cemetery, an hour away, Holy Cross in North Arlington. After the funeral, they will go to Revolution in Morristown to reprise and celebrate Mr. Cavanaugh’s life.
(Visited 1,722 times, 270 visits today)
Keynote USA
For the Latest Local News, Follow Keynote USA Local on Twitter.