Obituary for David Cashman
CDR David M. Cashman, USN (ret.)
CDR David M. Cashman, Dave, passed peacefully on May 21, 2022, with his wife Bobbi at his side. Born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts on May 8, 1942, he was raised in Nahant, Mass where his love of sailing originated. A graduate of St. Mary’s Senior High School in Lynn and St. Anselm’s College in New Hampshire (Class of ’64), Dave began his life of public service including 28 years on active duty in the U.S. Navy by earning a commission through the Navy’s Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island before reporting to USS Chukawan (AO-100).
A surface warfare officer serving on four ships (USS Biddle (CG-34), USS Hamner (DD718), USS Lockwood (FF-1064), and USS Lawrence (DDG 4)), Dave traveled the world with the Navy including several deployments to the Tonkin Gulf off Vietnam between June 1970 and October 1974. He served as the Aide to the Commandant, Sixth Naval District (Rear Admiral Jack Dorsey) in Charleston, SC. Later, he was appointed as the first executive officer of the newly established AEGIS Training Center in Dahlgren, Virginia.
Eventually, it was the Navy that brought him back home to the North Shore of Massachusetts for his final assignment as the 62nd Captain of USS Constitution, Old Ironsides, from August 1st, 1987 until September 21st, 1991. His four years in command of our nation’s oldest warship included visits to D. C. to receive the International Maritime Heritage Medal from President Ronald Regan and again to lead the crew in George H.W. Bush’s inauguration parade, a slew of dignitaries during each of his July 4th ‘turn around’ cruises, preparations for an extensive drydock period essential to preserve the ship, welcoming the first women to serve on the ship, the foundational planning starting in 1988 for Constitution’s historic sail to Marblehead in 1997 and his wedding to Bobbi Bishop (the first commanding officer to be married on the ship while serving).
Commander Cashman’s personal decorations and awards included the Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal with Combat V and two Gold Stars and the Combat Action Service Medal. He is a recipient of the Admiral Arleigh Burke Leadership Award and was named the Marblehead Person of the Year in 1997.
Not one to sit back in retirement, Dave was appointed Naval Aide to the Governor of Massachusetts and ingrained himself in the local Marblehead community as a member of the Cemetery Commission, volunteering his time with the United Way, Salem Partnership, Essex National Heritage, Salem Maritime National Park Visitor Center and on the Parish Council of the Star of the Sea Church all while keeping close contact with the succession of officers who followed in his footsteps aboard Constitution.
When not volunteering his time or sharing sea stories at F.L. Woods, he loved spending time with his grandchildren and taking friends and family aboard his sloop Preamble.
While Dave and Bobbi eventually left Marblehead for the warmth and tranquility of Naples, Florida, they remained connected through the vast network of friends and townspeople including the Star of the Sea parish. Dave and Bobbi were faithful parishioners at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Naples.
In addition to his wife Bobbi, Dave is survived by his three sons, John David and Kristin Mitchell Cashman of Sedgwick, Maine, Joseph Matthew and Francie Halter Cashman of Baltimore, MD, and Dr. Jeffrey Paul and Molly Walker Cashman of Spartanburg, SC and Bobbi’s two children, David and Laura Bishop of Aurora, Illinois and Lisa Bishop and Paul Aragon of Albuquerque, New Mexico. As well, he is survived by nine grandchildren (Sarah and Emily Bishop, Elizabeth and William Cashman, Lizetta Halter, Lola Bishop and Emmylou, George, and James Cashman), as well as many nieces and nephews and hundreds of former shipmates, colleagues and friends.
Dave was predeceased by his two brothers, Thomas R. Cashman of Phippsburg, ME, and John Francis (Frank) Cashman of Newburyport, MA.
The family would like to thank Avow Hospice House for their wonderful care he received. There will be a memorial mass held at Our Lady, Star of the Sea in Marblehead, MA at a date to be determined and a burial at Arlington National Cemetery later. In lieu of flowers or donations, the family asks that you spend time with your family and friends making new memories.
CDR David M. Cashman, Dave, passed peacefully on May 21, 2022, with his wife Bobbi at his side. Born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts on May 8, 1942, he was raised in Nahant, Mass where his love of sailing originated. A graduate of St. Mary’s Senior High School in Lynn and St. Anselm’s College in New Hampshire (Class of ’64), Dave began his life of public service including 28 years on active duty in the U.S. Navy by earning a commission through the Navy’s Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island before reporting to USS Chukawan (AO-100).
A surface warfare officer serving on four ships (USS Biddle (CG-34), USS Hamner (DD718), USS Lockwood (FF-1064), and USS Lawrence (DDG 4)), Dave traveled the world with the Navy including several deployments to the Tonkin Gulf off Vietnam between June 1970 and October 1974. He served as the Aide to the Commandant, Sixth Naval District (Rear Admiral Jack Dorsey) in Charleston, SC. Later, he was appointed as the first executive officer of the newly established AEGIS Training Center in Dahlgren, Virginia.
Eventually, it was the Navy that brought him back home to the North Shore of Massachusetts for his final assignment as the 62nd Captain of USS Constitution, Old Ironsides, from August 1st, 1987 until September 21st, 1991. His four years in command of our nation’s oldest warship included visits to D. C. to receive the International Maritime Heritage Medal from President Ronald Regan and again to lead the crew in George H.W. Bush’s inauguration parade, a slew of dignitaries during each of his July 4th ‘turn around’ cruises, preparations for an extensive drydock period essential to preserve the ship, welcoming the first women to serve on the ship, the foundational planning starting in 1988 for Constitution’s historic sail to Marblehead in 1997 and his wedding to Bobbi Bishop (the first commanding officer to be married on the ship while serving).
Commander Cashman’s personal decorations and awards included the Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal with Combat V and two Gold Stars and the Combat Action Service Medal. He is a recipient of the Admiral Arleigh Burke Leadership Award and was named the Marblehead Person of the Year in 1997.
Not one to sit back in retirement, Dave was appointed Naval Aide to the Governor of Massachusetts and ingrained himself in the local Marblehead community as a member of the Cemetery Commission, volunteering his time with the United Way, Salem Partnership, Essex National Heritage, Salem Maritime National Park Visitor Center and on the Parish Council of the Star of the Sea Church all while keeping close contact with the succession of officers who followed in his footsteps aboard Constitution.
When not volunteering his time or sharing sea stories at F.L. Woods, he loved spending time with his grandchildren and taking friends and family aboard his sloop Preamble.
While Dave and Bobbi eventually left Marblehead for the warmth and tranquility of Naples, Florida, they remained connected through the vast network of friends and townspeople including the Star of the Sea parish. Dave and Bobbi were faithful parishioners at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Naples.
In addition to his wife Bobbi, Dave is survived by his three sons, John David and Kristin Mitchell Cashman of Sedgwick, Maine, Joseph Matthew and Francie Halter Cashman of Baltimore, MD, and Dr. Jeffrey Paul and Molly Walker Cashman of Spartanburg, SC and Bobbi’s two children, David and Laura Bishop of Aurora, Illinois and Lisa Bishop and Paul Aragon of Albuquerque, New Mexico. As well, he is survived by nine grandchildren (Sarah and Emily Bishop, Elizabeth and William Cashman, Lizetta Halter, Lola Bishop and Emmylou, George, and James Cashman), as well as many nieces and nephews and hundreds of former shipmates, colleagues and friends.
Dave was predeceased by his two brothers, Thomas R. Cashman of Phippsburg, ME, and John Francis (Frank) Cashman of Newburyport, MA.
The family would like to thank Avow Hospice House for their wonderful care he received. There will be a memorial mass held at Our Lady, Star of the Sea in Marblehead, MA at a date to be determined and a burial at Arlington National Cemetery later. In lieu of flowers or donations, the family asks that you spend time with your family and friends making new memories.