Richard F. Cavaliere

Richard Frank Cavaliere Sr., of Springdale, went peacefully, surrounded by family, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, at the age of 91. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Eva Marie Cavaliere. He is survived by his four children, Mary (Vic) Spinabelli, Richard (Deborah) Cavaliere Jr., Chris (Diane) Cavaliere and Catherine (Fred) Ottaviani; his sisters-in-law, Mary Catherine (John) Gibson and Jean Louise (Joe) Walkiewicz; 11 grandchildren, Matthew, Vico, Lauren, Lindsay, Ricky, Joey, Colin, Cameron, Caitlin, Carley and Carter; and one great-granddaughter, Elia. Richard was born in 1930 in Arnold, to the late Lucy Nicastro Cavaliere and Frank Cavaliere. He was their youngest child and only son, and grew up with three sisters, Jane Sarso, Margaret Chipoletti and Sue Artowsky. Following his high school graduation, Richard worked for the Chambers Glass Company and then Allegheny Ludlum for a few years. It was during that time that he attended a local dance where he met his future wife and lifelong love, Eva O'Neil West. When asked how he proposed, he'd often say with a laugh and a shrug, "I don't remember asking her to marry me, she just told me we were going to." But before they got their chance, Richard was drafted in the Korean War and sent off to be stationed in Alaska. He spent his time there causing trouble and complaining about the food, which eventually landed him a job as a cook. After becoming, in his words, "the best cook they had," he got permission to return home for his long-awaited wedding with Eva, where he fainted at the altar, and had to be revived with smelling salts. Maybe he skipped breakfast that morning, or maybe he just couldn't believe his luck. The two honeymooned in New York before Richard resumed his service in Alaska. Upon his return, Richard got a job with Westinghouse and they bought the home in Springdale where they would raise their four children and live out the rest of their lives together. It isn't easy to capture Richard's calm spirit and appreciation for the simple things in life, but here are some of the many joys he found during his time here: drinking IC Light while watching the Steelers or Pirates, growing every vegetable under the sun in his garden, painting goofy faces onto Halloween pumpkins, singing in the church choir, cooking eggplant, putting Sambuca in his coffee, watching Judy Garland sing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", traveling the world with his wife, Eva, and, later, looking through old photographs and reminiscing about her. During her final years, Richard proved to be a devoted husband and loving caretaker for Eva, and when she passed on she took a part of him with her. Richard's family is comforted in knowing that he is finally reunited with her after 10 years apart, and just in time for their 70th wedding anniversary, though for his sake we hope there were smelling salts on hand. Friends are welcome for visitation from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022, in the CHARLES B. JARVIE SPRINGDALE FUNERAL HOME INC., 801 Pittsburgh St. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 28, 2022, in St. Alphonsus/Guardian Angel Parish, and burial to follow in Our Lady of Hope Cemetery. Everyone is asked to please meet at church and follow Covid-19 protocols.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The American Heart Association or St. Alphonsus Church. www.jarviefuneralhome.com.

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