Richard Cavalli (right) with former ILWU International President and Local 34 President James Herman.
Longtime Local 34 and ILWU leader Richard Cavalli passed on January 14, 2016 at the age of 75. A native of Oakland, Cavalli was born on June 7, 1940 to his mother, Marion who was a nurse and father, Bud, was a longshoreman.
After graduating from Castlemont High School in 1958, Cavalli got a Bachelor’s degree in History from San Jose State University. He continued to study formally and informally throughout his life and was a voracious reader of history, politics and natural history.
In 1966, he married Ann Preuitt, had three children and remained together 49 years. Cavalli began working with the Local 34 Marine Clerks as a “B-man” in the 1960’s and became fully registered in 1971. He was increasingly active in union affairs, beginning as a Steward, then Local Executive Board member. By 1977 he was elected Vice President and Assistant Business Agent, a position he held through the 1980’s while also serving as a Convention and Longshore Caucus delegate. In 1997, Cavalli was elected President of Local 34 and served initially for five years.
In 2003, he ran and was elected to the International Executive Board where he remained until 2009. Cavalli was reelected to serve as Local President and completing his final term in 2008 before retiring in 2010.
In meetings, Cavalli usually listened to other views before speaking, but rarely hesitated to voice his own opinion, especially when he thought a matter of principle was involved – even if it was unpopular. He was a critical thinker who tried to offer constructive suggestions when raising a problem, and was frequently eloquent, if not always persuasive.
Longtime Local 10 member Lawrence Thibeaux served on the International Executive Board with Cavalli, and recalled how they were assigned in the early 1990’s to join Local 52 member James Dean on a committee that investigated allegations of gender and racial discrimination at ILWU Locals in the Pacific Northwest. “Richard was part of our committee that went to Seattle, Tacoma and Portland, where we documented problems with discrimination and reported our findings back to the International Executive Board,” said Thibeaux. “Richard didn’t flinch from those unpleasant facts and remained determined to help enact reforms that made our union stronger and more inclusive.”
Cavalli also travelled with an important ILWU committee in 1989 to visit the Port of Rotterdam where new technology and automation were operating. In additional to his devotion to union causes, which included marching with Cesar Chavez and protesting the invasion of Iraq, Cavalli was passionate about spending time in the wilderness, especially in Yosemite’s high country and throughout the Sierra Nevada range. He also volunteered and supported many causes and community efforts including the Apostleship of The Sea, Sierra Club, Corpus Christi Men’s Club, Colombo Club, and Castlemont High School Alumni Association.