Dr. John Cashman

Dr. Cashman was born in the borough of Warren, Pa., on April 11, 1938, the son of the late Ella Harrington and William Maurice Cashman, M.D., FACS. World War II shaped his early youth. When his father was at the Norfolk Naval Hospital, John sat on Virginia Beach and watched amphibious craft practice for D Day; in San Diego, he cowered under the covers when the coyotes howled and ran home crying with the Californians called him “Okie” and belittled his lack of knickers and cursive writing. At war’s end he returned home to a small town existence captured so well by the artist Norman Rockwell, enjoyed the summers at his family’s camp at Yankee Bush and in winter delivered the Pittsburgh Post Gazette and finished his route with a mug of coffee at the Texas Lunch.

His father determined he should broaden his horizons and he was sent to Phillips Academy, Andover, Ma. While there he studied clarinet with the first chair of the Boston Symphony. After graduation he boarded the Broadway Limited and headed to the University of Chicago where he placed out of the most basic first year courses. While at Chicago he won his varsity “C” playing soccer, was elected to the Maroon Key, served as a dormitory RA, and on a summer six week course in Besancon, France, John developed a love for the French language and people that was to last until his death. He entered the University of Chicago Medical School in 1960 but dropped out because he wasn’t sure of his career goals. To his family’s horrible chagrin he became a bus driver for the Chicago Transit Authority. He once said reading transfers in a timely manner was tougher than biochemistry.

In April 1961, he married Diane Cobb of Louisville, Ky., the girl he met at a mixer their first night on The Midway. They moved to Philadelphia and he entered Jefferson Medical College from which he graduated in 1965. Five more years of medical study followed in Harrsiburg and Cincinatti.

In 1970 Dr. Cashman moved to Charleston, S.C., where he was head of urology at the U.S. Naval Hospital. He completed his tour as a Lt. Commander, USN and moved to Wilmington in 1972 to join Hanover Urological, which at that time was composed of the late Drs. R.B. Hare, Jr., Jos. W. Hooper, Jr., and W.T. Shearin, Jr.

Professionally, Dr. Cashman was a diplomate of the American Urological Association and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He served as president of the New HanoverPender County Medical Society, Carolina Urological, Southern Society of Urological Surgeons, and Wilmington SugCare. he also represented North Carolina for several years as an alternate or delegate to the Southeastern Section of the AUA. He was on the staff of the Babies’ Hospital and New Hanover and served as chairman of the department of surgery at NHRMC.

Throughout his medical career, Dr. Cashman enjoyed a caring rapport with his patients and staff and during his late illness many came forward to tell what a positive force he had been in their lives.

He served on the board of Travelers’ Aid and the YMCA and was a member of the Basilica Shrine of St. Mary.

After retirement he took up golf but never accomplished that elusive “hole in one”; however, he loved the support and camaraderie he shared with fellow duffers. His “Harrington Laugh” was well known to his family and friends and it was indicative of his joie de vivre.

In his final illness he never lost his sense of humor and never forgot to say thank you.

He is survived by his wife of almost 57 years, a daughter Nancy (Michael) and youngest son James of McLean, Va., and sons Robert of Memphis, William of Granville, Oh., and John of Harrsonburg, Va. His son Patrick (Charlene) and her daughter Teri of Saluda, N.C., and son Willem Cashman of Wilmington. His brother Michael (Kathy) of Bedford, Ma., sister Mary Dahl of Warren, sister Jane McComas (Jeff) of Salt Lake City and many other Harrington and Cashman relatives.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Anne.