A 99-year-old former athlete from Syracuse, known for writing a Pulitzer Prize-nominated biography, has passed away.

Obituary: Jack Cavanaugh, Beloved Sports Writer and Educator, Passes Away at 99

Jack Cavanaugh, a renowned sports writer, broadcast journalist, author, and educator, passed away at the age of 99 on Monday at Stamford Hospital.

Born in Stamford on Nov. 21, 1925, to John and Mary Naikelis Cavanaugh, Cavanaugh grew up in the city and served as a signalman with the U.S. Navy in the Pacific during World War II. After the war, he graduated from Stamford High School and went on to attend Syracuse University, where he played baseball and basketball.

Cavanaugh began his career in print journalism, working at the New Haven Register and the Providence Journal. He later moved on to wire services in Hartford, Washington D.C., and New York City, and at ABC News and CBS News, where he covered major events such as riots in Harlem, N.Y., with journalist Ed Bradley. Cavanaugh had a strong interest in the civil rights movement and made friends with figures like the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and Muhammad Ali. He also interviewed six presidents.

Later in his career, Cavanaugh made sports reporting his main beat, working for the Reuters news agency and eventually the New York Times. He represented the International Boxing Hall of Fame as a journalist in later years. Cavanaugh was known for his engaging manner and strong storytelling skills, inspiring trust in the athletes he covered.

In addition to his journalism career, Cavanaugh wrote several books, including a biography of boxer Gene Tunney, "Tunney: Boxing's Brainiest Champ and His Upset of the Great Jack Dempsey," which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. He also wrote books about Notre Dame football, the baseball season of 1942, and the New York Giants. In later life, Cavanaugh began teaching and writing nonfiction books.

Cavanaugh lived previously in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, N.Y., Norwalk, and Wilton, and returned to Stamford about 10 years ago. He was an active member of the community, often seen at Stamford city parks along the Long Island Sound.

Cavanaugh is survived by his wife, the former Margaret Rose McDonald, who lives in Stamford, his son, who lives in Santa Cruz, Calif., his daughter, Tara Cavanaugh Wells, and three grandchildren, all of Denver. A Mass of Christian burial will be held for Cavanaugh at the Basilica of Saint John the Evangelist.

Cavanaugh's family friend, Rick Robustelli, described him as a man who loved the world of sports and had integrity. Donations in Cavanaugh's name are being made to the Boys & Girls Club of Stamford. In his memory, Cavanaugh will be remembered as a dedicated journalist, a loving husband and father, and a valued member of the Stamford community.

A 99-year-old former athlete from Syracuse, known for writing a Pulitzer Prize-nominated biography, has passed away.