Pat Canavan, 1958-2020, Longtime Head Pro At The New York Athletic Club by Rob Dinerman Dateline February 22, 2020
--- Daily Squash Report is sad to report the news that Pat Canavan, one
of the most well-liked figures in the squash community, died on
February 21st, just two days before what would have been his 62nd
birthday. Canavan was diagnosed a few months ago with glioblastoma, one
of the most lethal and aggressive forms of brain cancer. On Thursday,
by which time it was known that nothing more could be done to save him,
Canavan was transferred from a New York hospital to his family home in
Philadelphia and he passed away the following day, peacefully and with
his family members beside him.
Although Canavan had not played squash before entering the University
of Pennsylvania in September 1976, he picked up the game quickly enough
to earn three varsity letters and serve as team co-captain (along with
U. S. Squash Hall of Famer Ned Edwards) during his senior year. Canavan
then played on the WPSA pro hardball tour throughout the 1980's,
earning a ranking as high as No. 33 and earning praise from his
colleagues for his ability to recover from shoulder and knee surgery
and return to his pre-injury level.
But Canavan's most noteworthy and enduring contribution to the sport
was as a teaching pro for nearly 40 years. He worked in that
capacity from 1982-93 at the Lincoln Squash Club and then spent 18
months as the manager/teaching pro at the First Avenue Squash Club. In
early January 1995, Canavan became the head professional at the New
York Athletic Club (NYAC) and marked his milestone 25-year anniversary
in that role last month. His responsibilities ranged from giving
lessons, to running the pro shop, to overseeing club championships and
league matches, to hosting pro matches at events like the Hyder Cup and
Tournament of Champions to organizing the Big Apple Open, which has
been a prominent pro doubles tournament that has been played every
year since the event's inception in April 2004 --- and he handled
every one of those wide-ranging obligations proficiently and with a
smile.
Canavan made everyone who entered his orbit feel welcome and
appreciated. It is difficult to imagine anyone in squash who is more
universally liked than Canavan was, and his even keel and ability to
see something good in almost any situation made him an oasis of calm
and perspective in a squash world that sometimes becomes very
turbulent. The NYAC Squash Committee is already discussing various
options to honor his memory and will be making an announcement when
those details have been determined.
