Kelvin L. MacKavanagh

Kelvin Laurence MacKavanagh, age 89 of Atco, NJ, passed away on May 10, 2026. Beloved husband for 60 years to Marion MacKavanagh (nee Gallacher). Also survived by his children, Karen MacKavanagh and husband Jeffry Jones of Silver Spring, MD; Mark MacKavanagh and wife Kathryn of Round Hill, VA; and Jill Strafaci and husband James of Somerville, NJ. Proud and loving Grandpa of Zoe Maroko and the late Maria Maroko, Caitlin and Connor Strafaci, and Arden and Paige MacKavanagh.

Son of late Dr. James and Natalie (Rauch) MacKavanagh, Kel graduated from Xavier High School in Manhattan and Holy Cross College in Worcester, MA, and earned a Master's in Business Administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Kel used his lifelong love of trains in a railroad career in various marketing positions with New York Central, Penn Central, Conrail, and CSX Transportation.

After 3 years in the Army Transportation Corps, Kel served in the Army Reserve for another 25 years, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. At his Pentagon retirement ceremony, he was awarded the Legion of Merit.

Kel loved his family, baseball (especially the Dodgers), football (the Washington Commanders), bluegrass country music, trains (big ones or model ones), travel, theater, and genealogy.

He was a trustee, lector, and Eucharistic Minister at Christ the Redeemer Church, and volunteered at Virtua Hospital (Voorhees) and the Fountains, before moving in as a resident.

He will be deeply missed.

Family and friends are invited to attend his viewing on Friday, May 15th, 2026, from 9:45 am to 10:45 am at Christ the Redeemer Parish, Assumption Church, 318 Carl Hasselhan Dr. Atco, NJ 08004, with Mass of Christian Burial to begin at 11:00 am. Interment to follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Berlin, NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Samaritan Hospice by mailing your donation to Samaritan Gift Processing Center, PO Box 71425, Philadelphia, PA 19176-1425.