Date of death: 3/25/2021
Saint Meinrad Class: O 1961
James F. McDavitt, 86, of Indianapolis passed away at home peacefully in his sleep on March 25, 2021.
Jimmy, as he was known, was born on January 4, 1935, in Indianapolis, the son of the late Howard and Jane (Foltz) McDavitt. He is survived by his brother, Patrick (Pamela) McDavitt; brother-in-law, Ed McCauley; sister-in-law, Cheryl McDavitt; nieces and nephews, Elizabeth McDavitt Centenari, Michael McDavitt, Mark McDavitt, Molly McDavitt, Kelly McDavitt Ford, Maria Vonderbrink, and Michael McCauley; and great nieces and nephews, Madison and Isabella Centenari; Matthew, Elizabeth and Katherine Vonderbrink; and Otto and Axel McDavitt Koehler. He was preceded in passing by a brother and sister-in-law, John Michael (Mary Diane McFarland) McDavitt and a sister, Mary Ann McCauley.
Jimmy attended Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School in the Irvington neighbor of Indianapolis and Saint Meinrad’s Seminary in Rockport, Indiana. He was also a Trappist Brother for several years at the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky. He worked in the mailroom of Community Hospital East in Indianapolis for 40 years and was on a first name basis with hundreds of physicians and staff at the hospital. He was known for his frenetic work ethic and friendly banter.
After his retirement, Jimmy devoted all of his energy to caring for his beloved mother in their home until her death in 2005. He was close to his extended family including spending out-of-town holidays in Georgetown, in Florida, and in Minnesota. He also loved making frequent visits to his friends in Sherwood Forest, Maryland. He lived independently with his cat, Tigger, in the apartment he previously shared with his mother. He enjoyed taking Tigger for walks on the Monon trail with Tigger in his “cat mobile”. Jimmy was a voracious reader and was especially drawn to history and the lives of the saints. He was an active member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church. His spirituality was grounded in his Trappist experience and his faith sustained him throughout his life.