Kathleen Frances Cavanaugh Fogarty, a longtime resident of Darien, passed away on Aug. 5. She was 80.
Born on Sept. 30, 1940, in Boston, and raised in Newton and Scituate, Massachusetts, she was the daughter of the late Thomas Francis Cavanaugh and Catherine Frances Connor.
She was a graduate of the Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart and the Newton College of the Sacred Heart, which later merged with Boston College.
Kathleen was a natural athlete who excelled as a field hockey and tennis player. She also was an excellent golfer and loved the ocean.
In addition to raising her four children, Kathleen had a successful career in the beverage industry, working with her late husband Richard Fogarty at Labatt-USA, where she held various positions including public relations and marketing. She also was a first-grade elementary school teacher and graduated from an executive program associated with Columbia University.
Kathleen had a great intellectual curiosity and led a true life of the mind and heart.
She and her husband Richard were part of the International Executive Service Program, and they traveled to Turkey and the former Czechoslovakia to promote free enterprise.
She loved to travel the globe with family and friends but always looked forward to coming back home, whether it be in Darien, Narragansett or New Canaan.
Kathleen adored spending time with her three grandchildren, Maureen, Meghan and Maeve Selvaggi and with her family in general, whether it was on trips to Ireland, Rhode Island, Italy, Portugal or on regular visits to New York City, New Canaan, Darien or the Woodway Country and Beach Club.
As for friends, Kathleen had more of them than could ever be named here, and she treasured each and every one of them as if they were a member of her own extended family.
In her later years, Kathleen was very active and enjoyed her regular get-togethers with friends, whether to play mah-jongg or canasta or to discuss the latest book from the several book clubs that she was part of over a glass of wine. She also loved almost every kind of musical genre and prided herself on being current with the contemporary music that her grandchildren recommended to her. She will always be deeply loved and missed.
Kathleen, whose beloved husband Richard passed away in 2004, is survived by her four children: Richard Fogarty of Narragansett, Rhode Island; Kathleen Selvaggi of New Canaan; Suzanne Fogarty of New York City; Justine Appicelli of Asheville, North Carolina; and her three grandchildren: Maureen, Meghan and Maeve Selvaggi of New Canaan; her two sons-in-law: Nicola Selvaggi of New Canaan and Greg Appicelli of Asheville; and her sister, Justine Donnelly of Brookfield, Wisconsin.
A viewing will be held from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Aug., 10, 2021 at Lawrence Funeral Home, 2119 Boston Post Road, Darien (203-655-6127).
A funeral Mass will take place at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 11 at St. Thomas More Church, 374 Middlesex Road, Darien.
A “Celebration of Life” Reception for Kathleen will be held at 12 noon, Wednesday, Aug. 11 at Woodway Country Club, 540 Hoyt Street, Darien (203-322-1661).
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Foundation Fighting Blindness, a cause close to Kathleen’s heart, online or by mail at Foundation Fighting Blindness, P.O. Box 45740, Baltimore, MD, 21297-5740.
COVID-19 Policy: Fully Vaccinated People – mask optional. Unvaccinated People – mask please.
— an obituary from Lawrence Funeral Home, where online condolences may be left