It is with broken hearts and deep gratitude for a life richly lived that we announce the passing (or dramatic celestial promotion) of Timothy N. Kavanagh of South Burlington, Vt. — a man who refused to let cancer, common sense or gravity define him.
Tim was born on April 17, 1966, to Jim and Judy Kavanagh and raised in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. He was a 1984 graduate of North Country Union High School and 1986 graduate of Champlain College. He carried the Kingdom’s stubborn spirit, humor and resilience with him wherever life took him.
Tim was the devoted husband and cosmic copilot to his fierce and faithful wife, Candy — his soulmate, caregiver, protector, and the only woman capable of both loving him endlessly and putting him firmly in his place. Their love story was not just written in vows but in hospital rooms, late-night laughs, hard-fought battles and whispered reminders that love wins — always.
He was the proud and slightly overdramatic father of three remarkable sons. Matthew, Alexander and Sawyer each inherited his heart, his humor and hopefully a little more patience. To them, he was coach, cheerleader, philosopher, storyteller, and fellow sports and music enthusiast. He was the guy who could somehow make even life’s hardest moments feel like a scene from a movie — sometimes a comedy, sometimes an epic saga, occasionally a documentary no one asked for. The boys knew that their dad would drop everything when they needed his help, no matter how serious or silly.
Tim was many things:
A dreamer.
A fighter.
A storyteller.
An entertainer.
A guy who could turn any room — a classroom, a bar, a hospital ward or a fundraiser — into an audience.
A man who once proudly declared he had “flushed cancer while life was circling the drain.”
Ever the people person and natural-born salesman, Tim spent his career happily selling just about everything under the sun — from hotel rooms to industrial manufacturing seals to television and radio advertisements. Later he turned his talents to higher education, helping persuade the federal government to offer his college as an educational benefit to federal employees — proof that if people were involved and a good story could be told, Tim could usually make the deal happen.
He believed in the North Star — not just the one in the sky but also the one inside each of us. His compass pointed toward courage, compassion and occasionally questionable decisions made with great enthusiasm. His motto: “Always strive toward the star — you may not get there, but it’s the journey you experience along the way.” And what a journey it was.
Diagnosed in 2016 after a routine colonoscopy at 50, Tim embarked on a battle that would include radiation, multiple surgeries, systemic chemotherapy and enough hospital bracelets to start a fashion line. Yet in the middle of it all, he chased his dreams — working on major motion pictures; supporting other cancer patients and their families through speaking and fundraising engagements; and cohosting podcasts that reminded the world that, even in the valley, love is louder than fear. While fighting his own battle, Tim somehow found the energy to show up for others facing cancer — meeting people when fear was loudest and helping them laugh, breathe and believe they could get through it, too.
Tim did not just survive — he inspired. He turned pain into purpose, setbacks into stories and hospital hallways into runways of hope. He believed early detection saves lives. He believed caregivers are heroes. He believed laughter was holy. And he believed that no matter how dark the night was, the North Star is still there — steady, faithful, waiting.
Tim gave generously of his time and talent to help others. A natural entertainer, he was always willing to grab a microphone — emceeing events, giving speeches and telling stories that made people laugh when they needed it most. From local school fundraisers and community events to speaking at the American Cancer Society’s annual gala, Tim showed up again and again for causes he believed in, especially supporting those facing cancer. Even in the hardest years of his life, he never stopped lifting other people up.
If you’re looking for him now, don’t. He’s likely reorganizing Heaven’s filing system, pitching podcast ideas to the angels and insisting there’s a better lighting setup near the pearly gates. He’s probably already told Saint Peter how to improve the admissions process.
Tim leaves behind a legacy far greater than any resume:
A marriage that defied the odds.
Children who know what strength looks like.
Friends who were treated like family.
And a community reminded that resilience is built one brave day at a time.
Tim leaves his wife, Candy; mother, Judy, children, Matt (Kristen), Alex (Amanda) and Sawyer; bonus children, Grant Thibault (Jai Kunhardt) and Danielle Thibault (Davison Herberg); and grandchildren, Evy Kavanagh, Abraham Thibault and Wilder Chauvin. His beloved dog Adora rarely left his side. He will be equally missed by his siblings, Michael (Cynthia), Andrea (Ewell) and Katy (Martin); nephews Kristopher Smith and Jack Kavanagh; niece Ellie Smith; and a vast network of aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, neighbors and colleagues.
Tim was predeceased by his father, Jim Kavanagh; maternal grandparents, Arthur and Catherine Nelson; paternal grandparents, Albert and Alice Kavanagh; several aunts, uncles and cousins; and a special community of friends who fought tenacious battles with cancer.
In lieu of flowers, Tim would ask you to get screened, hug your people tighter, laugh louder than is socially acceptable and chase your North Star — even if you have to limp toward it. He may not have reached every star he aimed for, but oh, the journey he gave us.
The family is eternally grateful to the many compassionate caregivers and support systems that were with Tim on this journey, including the University of Vermont Medical Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Angel Flight NE, Cancer Patient Support Foundation, Hope Lodge New York City and the McClure Miller Respite House. If you care to donate in Tim’s memory, please consider:
- Sail Beyond Cancer Vermont: The Nautical Giving Program provides cancer respite and memorial sailing experiences for patients and families. Please contact: Sail Beyond Cancer Vermont, 150 Dorset St., Suite 245-234, South Burlington, VT 05403.
- TK Creative Arts Memorial Fund: Tim’s love of storytelling and performance will continue through the TK Creative Arts Memorial Fund, which his family is establishing at his alma mater, North Country Union High School, to support students pursuing creative arts. Tim’s podcast and recording equipment will also be donated to the school so students can explore podcasting, voice work and other forms of creative storytelling. Please contact: TK Creative Arts Memorial Fund, c/o Passumpsic Savings Bank, PO Box 218, Newport, VT 05855.
Tim spent his life making people laugh and lifting the spirits of everyone around him. If he were here to deliver the closing line himself, it would probably come with a wink of those big blue eyes and a smile: “Don’t cry too long – there is still work to do.”
And as the curtain falls: “I hope you enjoyed the show. I know I sure did.”
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, March 20, 2026, 11 a.m., at St. Francis Xavier Church, 3 Saint Peter St., Winooski, VT.
A celebration of Tim’s life will take place on Saturday, April 4, 2026, 1 to 4 p.m., at Hotel Champlain, 60 Battery St., Burlington, VT. Tim says, “You better be there!”
Arrangements are in the care of Ready Funeral & Cremation Services. To share online condolences, please visit readyfuneral.com.