Clayton Francis Cavanaugh, a man of great character and a boundless heart, was born on September 16, 1942, and was raised in San Francisco by a powerful single mom. Though an only child, he grew up in the embrace of a sprawling Sicilian family and was inspired by the love of his aunts, uncles, and cousins to have a large family of his own—a dream he fulfilled many times over.
A talented sportsman, Clay was an all-star football player at St. Ignatius College Preparatory. Though he earned an athletic scholarship to Oregon State University, he opted to stay local and starta family with his first wife, Janice Juvet. They welcomed his first child, Suzanne, in 1962.
Clay earned a B.S. degree in Physical Education from San Francisco State University. His early career spanned many fields, including the San Francisco Produce Market and the San Francisco Opera House, where he developed a lifelong appreciation for classical music; he was known to blast opera music at a window-rattling decibel while making German apple pancakes for breakfast.
When Clay married Rosalee Calleja in 1971, he also welcomed her daughter, Stacey, into his family. Together, he and Rosalee had four more daughters and a son between the years of 1973 and 1981. During this time, Clay turned toward his passion for cars and tinkering. A master of his craft, he became a skilled and respected machinist and the longtime owner of CHO Machine Shop, a successful business serving the entire Bay Area and accepting special requests from abroad.
“Midway upon the journey of life,” as Dante put it, Clay experienced a period of self-reflection and reinvention as he learned to navigate life as a "weekend warrior," single dad. He taught himself to cook by watching recorded cooking shows, much to the relief of his children, who celebrated the replacement of "very burnt vegetables" with homemade fettuccine or swoon-worthy four-cheese lasagna. (The recipe is now a family secret.)
He was as comfortable in worn out sweats and sneakers as he was in Italian suits and designer shoes. He could switch from hollering at the Monday Night Football screen to reading a Pulitzer Prize novel during the commercials. While he always kept a pragmatic truck or SUV for work, he invested in a Dino Ferrari, which mysteriously devolved into various parts haunting various shops and garages. No one did get the full story of what happened.
Happily busy, he filled his days with hobbies. Ever a craftsman, he took up model ship building–some of his intricate masterpieces are still treasured by his children--running the Bay to Breakers, dancing at the SF Black and White Balls and cycling–participating in many century rides.
As a single father, he made weekends with the kids a fun adventure, instilling in his children a deep love for San Francisco with cable car rides, sunny picnics at China Beach or Golden Gate Park, foggy days at the Exploratorium, the Academy of Sciences, or Coyote Point, neverending Sears Point events, and special weekends skiing at Squaw Valley or camping and hiking. His children are certain they attended every jazz and arts festival between Sonoma and Monterey.
He showed immense strength and devotion when he nursed his third wife, Rima (née Karkar), through two years of illness until she succumbed to cancer. He later survived his own brush with cancer with characteristic resilience.
In retirement, Clay found joy again when he met and married his beloved wife, Jeannie in 2009, who brought with her the youngest addition to Clay's most welcoming heart, Erin. Clay and Jeannie traveled the world together, rebuilt their home, and attended endless birthday parties, holiday events, family vacations, sacraments, and recitals for his many grandchildren.
Clay believed there was no reason for a human to be lonely. Everyone was worthy and deserving of love. He could find the lovable traits in any individual and could not tolerate meanness of any kind, unless it was light-hearted teasing.
Clay passed away on January 7, 2026, and is survived by his devoted wife, Jeannie Kuo; his children: Suzanne (Leo) Potts, Stacey (Vincent) Masetti, Samantha Dollar, Sarah (Richard) Romanski, Serena Cavanaugh, Stephanie (Ryan) Herbst, Shawn Cavanaugh, and Erin Ho; 17 grandchildren, and 21 great-grandchildren. He passed away with his wife, children, and grandchildren at his side.
No public services will be held. He will be interred privately at Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma, California. Please feel free to post a message or a photo for Clay’s family and in his memory.
A talented sportsman, Clay was an all-star football player at St. Ignatius College Preparatory. Though he earned an athletic scholarship to Oregon State University, he opted to stay local and starta family with his first wife, Janice Juvet. They welcomed his first child, Suzanne, in 1962.
Clay earned a B.S. degree in Physical Education from San Francisco State University. His early career spanned many fields, including the San Francisco Produce Market and the San Francisco Opera House, where he developed a lifelong appreciation for classical music; he was known to blast opera music at a window-rattling decibel while making German apple pancakes for breakfast.
When Clay married Rosalee Calleja in 1971, he also welcomed her daughter, Stacey, into his family. Together, he and Rosalee had four more daughters and a son between the years of 1973 and 1981. During this time, Clay turned toward his passion for cars and tinkering. A master of his craft, he became a skilled and respected machinist and the longtime owner of CHO Machine Shop, a successful business serving the entire Bay Area and accepting special requests from abroad.
“Midway upon the journey of life,” as Dante put it, Clay experienced a period of self-reflection and reinvention as he learned to navigate life as a "weekend warrior," single dad. He taught himself to cook by watching recorded cooking shows, much to the relief of his children, who celebrated the replacement of "very burnt vegetables" with homemade fettuccine or swoon-worthy four-cheese lasagna. (The recipe is now a family secret.)
He was as comfortable in worn out sweats and sneakers as he was in Italian suits and designer shoes. He could switch from hollering at the Monday Night Football screen to reading a Pulitzer Prize novel during the commercials. While he always kept a pragmatic truck or SUV for work, he invested in a Dino Ferrari, which mysteriously devolved into various parts haunting various shops and garages. No one did get the full story of what happened.
Happily busy, he filled his days with hobbies. Ever a craftsman, he took up model ship building–some of his intricate masterpieces are still treasured by his children--running the Bay to Breakers, dancing at the SF Black and White Balls and cycling–participating in many century rides.
As a single father, he made weekends with the kids a fun adventure, instilling in his children a deep love for San Francisco with cable car rides, sunny picnics at China Beach or Golden Gate Park, foggy days at the Exploratorium, the Academy of Sciences, or Coyote Point, neverending Sears Point events, and special weekends skiing at Squaw Valley or camping and hiking. His children are certain they attended every jazz and arts festival between Sonoma and Monterey.
He showed immense strength and devotion when he nursed his third wife, Rima (née Karkar), through two years of illness until she succumbed to cancer. He later survived his own brush with cancer with characteristic resilience.
In retirement, Clay found joy again when he met and married his beloved wife, Jeannie in 2009, who brought with her the youngest addition to Clay's most welcoming heart, Erin. Clay and Jeannie traveled the world together, rebuilt their home, and attended endless birthday parties, holiday events, family vacations, sacraments, and recitals for his many grandchildren.
Clay believed there was no reason for a human to be lonely. Everyone was worthy and deserving of love. He could find the lovable traits in any individual and could not tolerate meanness of any kind, unless it was light-hearted teasing.
Clay passed away on January 7, 2026, and is survived by his devoted wife, Jeannie Kuo; his children: Suzanne (Leo) Potts, Stacey (Vincent) Masetti, Samantha Dollar, Sarah (Richard) Romanski, Serena Cavanaugh, Stephanie (Ryan) Herbst, Shawn Cavanaugh, and Erin Ho; 17 grandchildren, and 21 great-grandchildren. He passed away with his wife, children, and grandchildren at his side.
No public services will be held. He will be interred privately at Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma, California. Please feel free to post a message or a photo for Clay’s family and in his memory.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Clayton Francis Cavanaugh, please visit our flower store.
Clayton Francis Cavanaugh's Guestbook
Visits: 100
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors