ROBERT R. CAVANO

CAVANO ROBERT R. CAVANO, of Westlake, formerly of Rocky River, passed away on Saturday, July 23, 2011. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 61 years, Elizabeth V. (Lux) Cavano. Survived by his brother John P. Cavano, Jr. of Atlanta; sons Robert R., Jr. (Jeanette) of San Francisco, Lee A. (Susan) of North Olmsted, Peter C. (Lurrie) of Bay Village, Loran J. (Nancy) of Webster Groves, MO, daughter Elizabeth A. of Somerville, MA; grandsons Aaron (Alyssa), Nolan, Robert; granddaughters Jill, Mary, Claire, Rae, Ruth; and great-grandsons Colin and Dylan. For many years he headed the L.A. Lux Company, a manufacturer of water treatment chemicals. After his retirement in 1989, he founded Scranton Associates, a consulting firm in the same field, and in 1995, expanded its activities into manufacturing. In 2008, he relocated the company to larger facilities in Strongsville. His efforts are recalled, for many, by the large number of technical papers he presented and published. Over a twelve-year period (1986-1998), he was an active member of the Board of MetroHealth System, particularly in matters related to Building and Grounds. In 1998, he was honored by the Center for Health Affairs for his contributions to health care in northeastern Ohio. He was also a member of The Print Club of Cleveland and the Society for Contemporary Art. His particular specialization in art scholarship was "santos" - the religious folk art of the Spanish and Portuguese colonies. Mr. Cavano served as President of the Merrick House board of trustees - a settlement house in the Tremont and Clark-Fulton areas of Cleveland - and later as President of the Greater Cleveland Neighborhood Centers Association. He was an incorporator and President of The Cuyahoga Plan, a fair housing organization, and was an early advocate for public housing. During the 1960s he was a member of the Commission on Catholic Community Action and headed its Housing Task Force. The City Club of Cleveland was one of his favorite hangouts. He served as President in 1976, and, as part of the U.S. Bicentennial celebration for that year, led the group on a trip to England for its first Forum away from Cleveland. The Rowfant Club, a focus for his interest in books, elected him to its presidency in 1989 and to be chairman of its 100th Anniversary Celebration. Among his most interesting presentations were those on the Tremont neighborhood, his Life in Baseball, and the demise of the Sterling Hotel. Mr. Cavano attended East High School in Cleveland, graduated from Case Western Reserve University in 1947 and did two years of graduate work in Mathematical Statistics at Columbia University. He served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps during World War II, in both the European and Pacific theatres. VISITATION will be held MONDAY, August 1, from 4 - 8 P.M. at McGORRAY-HANNA FUNERAL HOME OF WESTLAKE, 25620 CENTER RIDGE RD., (West of Columbia). Memorial Mass will be at St. Christopher's Church (20141 Detroit Rd., Rocky River, OH) on TUESDAY, August 2 at 11 a.m. Interment Private.