“I’m Dan Kavanaugh, and I’ve been collecting art for over 50 years. Come and take a look today.”
It is with tremendous sadness that we will not hear our dad personally say these words again. As many of you have already heard, Dan passed away on September 16th at Kavanagh House — 92.5 years young. He was strong, optimistic, practical, and made us laugh right up until the very end.
The gallery — and the joy of collecting art — was his and Carole’s passion and purpose. Up until just 10 weeks ago, Dan dressed in a suit and drove to the gallery six days a week, 9 to 5 (we finally convinced him to lose the tie). He had a flair for fashion and always believed that when you look good, you feel good.
Dan also loved Valley Junction. He often said it was the heart of Des Moines — a place where small businesses and community truly thrive.
There are no words to describe how deeply we will miss our dad. His spirit will continue to live on in our hearts and in the Kavanaugh Art Gallery.
We are finalizing plans for his funeral service and will share details soon. And can’t you just hear Dan saying: In lieu of flowers, buy yourself a wonderful piece of art — something that will make you smile every time you see it.
Kavanaugh Art Gallery 