Robert McAvoy

Robert (Mac) Aloysius McAvoy, 94, went to be with his Lord on April 9, 2016.

He was born in Charles City, Iowa, on June 22, 1921, the youngest of seven children. He attended Immaculate Conception High School in Charles City and graduated from St. George’s High School in Evanston, Illinois. He attended Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, before joining the Navy in 1942, where he served in the South Pacific through World War II.

Mac began a sales career in Waterloo, Iowa with Riggs Optical Company, which is now Bausch and Lomb. In June 1949, he married Margaret Kane of Lawler, Iowa, and moved to Cedar Rapids where they raised three children, Michael, Daniel and Jean.

In the 1970s his sales career advanced to him becoming a vice president with Securities Corporation of Iowa (SCI) where he Iowa (SCI) where he continued to work until his retirement in 1995.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret, in 1989. On July 1, 1994 he married Camilla (Millie) Hoyt. They lived in Cedar Rapids until 2001 when they moved to Fountain Hills.

Mac had a heart to help people in need and gave generously to the Cedar Rapids community on many occasions. He served as president of the Catholic Laymen’s Club, board member for the Homeless Children’s Trust and the Four Oaks Cornerstone Program.

He was an active participant in the ARC of East Central Iowa, Cedar Rapids Downtown Kiwanis and Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce. He was a charter member of the Sinclair Society, a 20-year chairman of the Regis Century Club (Now Xavier Silver), and a three-year sponsor of Regis International Seminars. He was a member of St. Pius Catholic Church.

In Fountain Hills, Mac continued to be active in the community participating in the Fountain Hills Activities Center programs including the Men’s Discussion Group, bridge, poker and weekly movies. His family donated the sculpture “Duck Parade” for his 90th birthday which is on display in the Fountain Hills Activity Center lobby.

He continued his membership in Kiwanis and was active in Fountain Hills Noon Kiwanis Club.

Mac had a robust zeal for life. He walked or rode his bike everywhere he could throughout his youth. He enjoyed music and dancing, especially waltzes and polkas. He loved to travel, play bridge and golf. But nothing pleased him more than a dinner party with friends and family and a good joke.

Mac is survived by his wife, Camilla (Millie) McAvoy; his sons Michael (Carolyn) McAvoy, St. Louis, Mo. and Daniel McAvoy Newark, N.J.; his grandchildren Shannon (John) Grass, Meredith (Steve) Perkins, Fritz (Jenny) McAvoy and Daniel and Brian Worth; and great grandchildren, George and Henry Grass, Nathaniel and Flora Perkins, and Arthur and Henry McAvoy; and his brother, Thomas McAvoy.

He was preceded in death by his parents William and Rose McAvoy; five siblings, his first wife, Margaret McAvoy and his daughter Jean Worth.

Mac is survived by his step-family including Millie’s children Robert (Carol) Hoyt, Catherine (Dan) Nosbish, Lynn (Dave) Strang and Janet (Richard) Janis-Tuten. He was loved as a grandfather by their 11 children as well.

Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, April 16, at Cedar Memorial Funeral Home. A memorial service will also be held in Fountain Hills at a later date.

Contributions may be made in lieu of flowers to The Arc of East Central Iowa, 680 2nd St., SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401.