Turner, Cathal
January 23, 2013Cathal was born in Cork City on January 27, 1938, to proud parents Charles and Ellen (Collins) Turner and was the second eldest of seven siblings, leading his brothers and sisters Thomas, Mairead, Stephanie, Cornelius, Peter and Eileen with strong love and influence; his older brother Thomas died early in life. When Cathal was still a toddler, his father, a member of An Garda Siochana, was transferred to Tralee, and it is the place he always claimed was 'home'. He enjoyed all sports but most especially Gaelic football, playing with John Mitchels, with whom he won a county minor championship in 1954. He also played on the Kerry minor team who were beaten by Limerick in the Munster championship. He represented his school, CBS, The Green, winning a county colleges title in 1955, beating St Michael's, Listowel.
He made the senior football team with John Mitchels, prior to emigrating to America, where he had a very successful career in the Los Angeles Police Department. In 1959 at the age of 21, inspired by dreams of success and opportunity in America, he emigrated to Los Angeles, California, where he met his Columban father and dear cousin, Fr. Michael Geoghegan. Always enthusiastically encouraged by Fr. Michael to attend the local Columban dances, he was soon swept off his feet by one Katherine "Kit" O'Connor from Kilanerin, County Wexford. He was smitten and wasted no time in asking for her hand in marriage, becoming engaged before he enlisted in the US Army. During the Cold War, Cathal was stationed in Germany for the Berlin Crisis of 1961 when the USSR and East Germany demanded the withdrawal of Western Armed Forces. He was assigned to the US Army Berlin Command to protect emigrants crossing at Checkpoint Charlie from the East German police and military. After completing his service, Cathal returned to the United States in 1962 to reunite with his Katie, and they promptly returned to Ireland to get married in her hometown of Kilanerin, County Wexford at the Church of St. Peter and Paul.
Settling in a small apartment in Hollywood, California, the newlyweds began their life and family, and they were richly blessed. Cathal's first job was at the Farmer John's Meat Company in Vernon. Later, he applied for and was accepted to the Los Angeles Police Department, graduating from the Police Academy in 1965 and proudly serving the city for twenty-two years until his retirement in 1987. Always a committed leader and one of high integrity, he earned multiple community recognitions and the prestigious 'LAPD Officer of the Year' award. He had law enforcement in his blood, following in the footsteps of his own father, who was a Garda.
Cathal and Katie recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and during these wonderful years were proud to be blessed with five sons, including eldest Brendan, Kevin, Sean, Michael and Stephen, and four cherished daughters-in-law Ellen, Delia, Nicole, and Jennifer. Nonetheless, it remains indisputable that Cathal and Katie's twelve amazing grandchildren were the central pride and joy of his world, and his love remains forever with Griffin, Cameron, Megan, Kaitlyn, Justin, Brittney, Kristin, Karlie, Breanne, Lauren, Nathan and Braden.
Even in his retirement, Cathal never slowed down, starting his own security company Cardinal Security Services, working alongside Brendan and Ellen to launch their computer services business Turner Techtronics, Inc., and helping all his sons find and purchase their first homes.
Cathal was and will forever be a shining example of what a true man is: a man of unwavering faith, steadfast commitment to family, loyalty to friends, and helper to all.
May he rejoice in the loving arms of our Lord and watch over everyone.
Courtesy of The Kerryman. Tweet
