Gavin Mahoney

Gavin Mahoney, aka The Lost Cat, returned home on April 21, 2023.  Born on July 21, 1967 in Binghamton, NY, Gavin grew up in Apalachin, NY and spent his childhood summers on Skaneateles Lake.  He was in Vestal High School’s class of 1986.

Gavin was an activist, artist and aristocat!  He captured the love and admiration of Ithacans with his simple stick figure cat, which first began appearing on cardboard and paper plates tacked to telephone poles around town back in 2007.  The image grew to be as symbolic of Ithaca as Ithaca is Gorges bumper stickers.  Besides creating the Lost Cat and Eat S’mores graffiti, Gavin was an avid artist, BLM supporter, kayak enthusiast, jazz lover, and mortal enemy of parking meters. 

Gavin was an amazing cook and an avid outdoorsman.  He worked at On the Street Pita, the State Diner, and Puddledockers Canoe and Kayak Rentals.

He was predeceased by his parents, John Russell and Mary Carol (VerNooy) Mahoney.  He will be reunited with them at Scott Union Cemetery in Scott, NY.  Gavin is survived by his sister Meghan Mahoney, brother-in-law Todd Von Hofe, nephew Griffin, his cat Victoria, and his Jungle family.

Services will be held on Thursday, April 27, 2023 at Bangs Funeral Home, 209 W. Green St., Ithaca, NY with a visitation from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm followed by a funeral service at 2:00 pm.  

Donations can be made to Ithaca Murals (J. Gavin Mahoney Lost Cat Memorial Fund) at ithacamurals.com, or Loaves & Fishes of Tomkins County at loaves.org, where he often volunteered his time and skills. 

Online condolences may be made to Gavin’s family and friends at www.bangsfuneralhome.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Gavin Mahoney, please visit our floral store.