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| Dr. Alonzo Cavin at a Rotary Student of the Month Luncheon |
Needless to say when I heard this news, I was shocked. Shocked is the response that everyone who knew him is feeling. We are also saddened by his sudden passing. I was informed that Dr. Alonzo Cavin suddenly and unexpectedly died Sunday Morning. His wife who had gone to early mass returned to find him. He could not be revived.
I first met Dr. Cavin when I was a student enrolled in the Masters in Education Program at Widener University. I took a class, in 1994, which he taught as part of the Education program. This year I had the privilege of working with him through the Rotary Club of Chester. As the Rotary Advisor, we communicated and met over the school year about our Students of the Month which were honored for their academic role each month. We had a Student of the Month from October to June. I have been posting the Student of Month as they were recognized by the Rotary Club of Chester.
Dr. Cavin was a graduate of Chester High School. He further studied at Cheyney University receiving a B.A in English 1965, West Chester University receiving a M.S in English 1969, and Temple University receiving an Ed.D. in Curriculum Theory 1979. He also served in the US Navy. Early in his career he was a middle school English teacher at Byard Middle School, Wilmington, DE. Then he went on to further his career at Widener University, Center for Education as an Associate Professor Emeritus from 1971 where he taught Undergraduate, Graduate courses, and Chaired Doctoral Dissertations. He later became an Adjunct Professor in 2004 in which he taught ED 544. He served as an Advisor in the Black Student Union, Alpa Phi Omega (National Service Fraternity), Chi Alpha Epsilon (Honor Society for Students from Developmental Programs), and Rotaract Club of Widener University (Student Service Organization of Rotary International) from 2003. He also had membership in the Rotary Club of Chester which he served as President and recently Secretary; Membership in Chester-Wallingford Chapter of the American Red Cross 1988-2008, Chapter Chair 1998; Martin Luther King Day of Service in Chester from 1999; Council to Equalize Funding for Public Education from 2003; and C-U COPE-Chester-Upland Committee On Public Education from 2004. He has also written many publications on education. Last summer, I read his published book based on his life, This is My Story.
Dr. Cavin was very active in the community. In addition to his work with the Chester High School Rotary Program, he discussed further community service ideas which he planned to pursue at the high school level for the upcoming school year. This year he helped to organize Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service on January 17. The Martin Luther King Commemorative Committee started at the YWCA where he presented Frances Henderson-Taylor with the Spirit Award for community service. Then he went on to Crozer Hall for the laying of the wreath at the site where King received a Bachelor of Divinity in Theological Seminary. Following the wreath ceremony, Dr. Cavin met with the audience in the James E. Clark Education Center at Crozer Medical Center as the keynote speaker in which he gave an insightful and informative speech about King’s ties to the Chester area. For more on MLK Day of Service Click Here
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| Dr. Cavin at our End of Year Breakfast Event |
The last time I saw Dr. Cavin was on May 14th when he came to our end of year event, search post for (Key Club and Rotary Club End of Year Event) or Click Here Dr. Cavin had a natural ability to put people at ease with his humor. I won’t repeat his last joke to us here but it was funny. Just about every time I saw him he told me he had 2 good years left before he retired so I should go back to Widener and finish my doctoral course work while he was still there. That always gave me chuckle. After I wrote the first Rotary Post on the Student of the Month, He sent me this note of encouragement: “What a wonderful story. Everyone in Delaware County has seen it. It's the kind of positive story about our students that you and I talked about. Thank you so much. A. Cavin”
Dr. Cavin, you will be missed.
For more information on Rotary Club Student of the Month, Search for previous postings, Dr. Cavin is pictured in all the postings.
Here are the Funeral Arrangements:
All services will be held at St. Joseph Church, 10th and French Streets, Wilmington, DE
Viewing – Friday June 10th from 6:00-8:00 pm
Service - Saturday, June 11th at 11:00 am (viewing before 10-10:45 am)
Burial: Veterans Cemetery in Bear DE, Thursday June 16th
Obit – newspapers: Wilmington and Daily Times online at funeral home starting Wednesday www.congofuneralhome.com
In lieu of flowers: Donation to Widener - Afro-American Alumni Association or Black Student Union
My Condolences to his wife and family and the Widener University and the Rotary Club of Chester Families
To Read Obituary on delawareonline.com Click Here
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