Barbara and Dean Cavanaugh
Obituaries
Dean Cavanaugh
Dean Thomas Cavanaugh of Saratoga died April 3 at the age of 87.
Born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on Jan. 17, 1915, he was an avid football player in his younger years. In 1933, he played on the state championship team for Fort Dodge.
He was also very interested in airplanes and the new era of flight. After graduating from high school, Cavanaugh attended junior college for one year, then transferred to Parks Air College, where he graduated with an airframe and mechanic certificate in 1936.
He was hired by Western Air and moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, where he met his future wife, Barbara Ann "Barby" Gubler, a registered nurse and descendant of a pioneer Utah family. Cavanaugh accumulated flying hours by instructing student pilots.
In 1941, Pan American Airways hired him; he earned his airline transport pilot rating and became a captain in short order, due to the outbreak of World War II. His career would end up spanning 34 years, 13 aircraft and more than 37,000 hours of flight time with Pan Am. He ended his career flying the Boeing 747.
Cavanaugh was a lifelong Mason of the 32nd degree. He was also a member of the Saratoga Optimist Club.
He was predeceased in 1999 by his wife of 59 years, Barbara Cavanaugh. Survivors include daughters Dee Ann Cavanaugh of Fallbrook and Barbara Jo Clifford of San Jose; son Tom Cavanaugh of Saratoga; and grandchildren Kelly, Brian, Ryan and Daedra.
Memorial services have been held. Donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association, Northern California Chapter, 2065 West El Camino Real, Suite C, Mountain View, 94040.
Blaine Coburn
Saratoga resident Blaine K. Coburn died March 19 at the Hospice Care Center at Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System. He was 86.
Born in Dana, Iowa, on Aug. 15, 1915, Coburn was a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and served in the U.S. Air Force until his 1963 retirement, when he left with the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Survivors include wife Ruth Coburn of Saratoga and daughter and son-in-law Deborah and Tom Rice of Los Gatos.
Memorial services have been held. Donations can be made to the VA Hospice Care Center, 3801 Miranda Ave., 100-2C, Palo Alto, 94304.
Saratoga, California Since 1955
