Harry Amory Cahill
January 10, 1930 ~ April 8, 2015
The Hon. Harry A. Cahill, of McLean, VA, beloved husband, father and grandfather, passed away suddenly on Wednesday, April 8 from injuries suffered in a fall. He was 85. Mr. Cahill was born on Jan. 10, 1930 in New York City, graduated from Manhattan College in 1951 and served in the U.S. Army for three years before beginning a distinguished 34-year career as a diplomat with the U.S. State Department. Mr. Cahill's diplomatic career included posts in Norway, Poland, Yugoslavia, Uruguay, Nigeria, Sri Lanka and India. Mr. Cahill closed out his diplomatic career as Acting Deputy Representative on the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations from 1988 to 1990. Mr. Cahill, who was fluent in nine languages and authored a book on U.S.-China trade, worked tirelessly in his retirement years. Throughout the 1990's, he went to Bosnia and Herzegovina as an elections supervisor of OSCE and as Refugee Affairs coordinator at the U.S. Embassy. Other post-retirement duties included serving as a consultant to the U.S. Department of Defense for Iraq and Afghanistan, directing the U.S.-Indo Chamber of Commerce and teaching international business management courses at Pepperdine University each summer from 1992 until 2014. Mr. Cahill is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Angelica; father of Alan Cahill, Daniel Cahill (Beth), Sylvia Cahill, Irene Cahill (Julie Landrio), Madeleine Gabriele (Vince) and Steven Cahill (Claudia); grandfather of Ashley, Dylan, Cole, Alexander, Matthew and Brady. Funeral Services will be held at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, 8601 Wolf Trap Rd., Vienna, VA on Thursday, April 16, at 10:30 am. Interment Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Doctors Without Borders.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
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Dear Nicky, I was immeasurably saddened when I read of Harry’s passing in this morning’s Washington Post. I have held you and Harry high in my affection and admiration since first meeting you in Lagos in 1975. My condolences to you and your wonderful family. I will make a donation in Harry’s name to Doctors without Borders. Love, Anne Radway
Please accept our heartfelt condolances from Ex. employees of American Consulate Mumbai, India. We all pray, God Bless his soul rest in peace.
Dear Nicky and Cahill family, I am sculptor from Mumbai.By chance Mr Harry Cahill visited my studio,80k.m.off Mumbai in 1986.He encourged me always from that day till his last letter in Jan 2015,to answer my birtday wishes to him.Me and my family always have high regards for him and your family.My Condolances to you and your great family.
While we never met Mr. Cahill, his daughter Sylvia is one of our dearest and most treasured friends. Our thoughts and prayers are with Sylvia and her family during this difficult time. Much Love. -Greg Henderson and Joseph Massa
Words cannot express the deeply shock to hear about the tragic loss of my dear friend Harry. He had a perpetual smile around him and his cheerful disposition lit up the room always. He always made me smile and his sense of humor was a cut above the rest. Needless to say, his knowledge on world affairs and government was extra ordinary. We will miss him immensely. May his soul rest in peace and our deepest condolences to the family. Warm Regards, Kamal Dandona New York kd@sochglobal.com Tel 516-248-8777
Sylvia and family My deepest sympathy for the loss of your father. The legacy that I see your dad leaving behind in you is amazing. One of caring and character and adventure and an incredibly positive outlook of the world and people. May you find comfort in the love of family and memories. May you see the hugs from heaven as you say your good byes and then the days to follow Hugs and prayers … CarolAnn
Nicky and family, Harry and I were in State’s SRP for 11 years.He was an inspiration for the four who shared this time together.His memories of the past,his songs,his constant willingness to keep up with everything important to him kept all amazed by his energy.As a privileged reader of his memoir,I know how much he thought of all of you–Nicky the beautiful and caring “Mommy” for all,the energetic and over-achieving children and grandchildren were the center of his life.As one who found him books to read,I know how widely and deeply he was a student of all that inspired him.We shared many discussions on history, music, literature, movies and the minutia of growing up in NY/NJ. Many experiences were parallel but his experiences were unique.Harry wrote his memoir for all of you and tried to improve its readability and accuracy.Rejoice in its enthusiasm for life and his constant search for new experiences.Find a publisher and let it inspire others.I will never forget him.
Dear Alan Cahill and Family, We are very sorry with it’s happening. May god relief family’s pain at this moment. Our condolences. Andreas Metzler and family.
If we are lucky in life, we have guides that assist us in traveling the road of life. Harry gave me a roadmap to success during my Embassy Marine days. The last I visited with Harry occurred in 1990/1991. We enjoyed a road trip together to the Gold Coast Castles in Ghana. Harry and I walking amongst the sad stones of the former slave castles while he read aloud from the tour books. I still see him, standing in silent contemplation, focused on the “door of no return” where the slaves would exit the castle, loaded onto small skiffs, and transported to the larger slave ships off shore. I corresponded with Harry just a few months ago to say “Thank you Harry for guiding me to the best road trip to adventure, service, and a craving to see what lies beyond the next bend in the road.” Semper Fi! — If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.-Henry David Thoreau –
What really set Harry apart was his concern for people. He always could find time to mentor individuals, even those he did not know well. For example, on the day before his passing he spent time at George Washington Universitys Elliott School of International Affairs, advising the Schools career counselor on the State Department. Harry took my own son under his wing and advised him on college-related issues. And he made sure that my son did not feel obligated indeed he told me to tell him that I truly need his advice and guidance as to what makes a good teacher. I could cite other examples of Harry making a special effort to help others, help that I know was deeply valued. We have lost a wonderful friend, but his words and essence live on in our memories and his memoirs.
What really set Harry apart was his concern for people. He always could find time to mentor individuals, even those he did not know well. For example, on the day before his passing he spent time at George Washington Universitys Elliott School of International Affairs, advising the Schools career counselor on the State Department. Harry took my own son under his wing and advised him on college-related issues. And he made sure that my son did not feel obligated indeed he told me to tell him that I truly need his advice and guidance as to what makes a good teacher. I could cite other examples of Harry making a special effort to help others, help that I know was deeply valued. We have lost a wonderful friend, but his words and essence live on in our memories and his memoirs.
I was very saddened to hear of his passing. I had the pleasure of working with him in Army Exercises and he was such a delight and a consumate gentleman. He could not but help to enlighten everyone’s day. May God grant him eternal rest and reward him greatly for all he did in life here on earth. R. Gordon Clark
Family and Friends, I know that this is a very difficult time. It’s never easy to lose someone you love but the Bible promises us at John 5:28,29 that you will see Harry again. Until then may your hearts be filled with the wonderful memories of joyful times spent together as you celebrate a life well lived. Please accept my condolences.
Harry was a part of the “Boz Bunch” from its inception following the early election monitoring in Bosnia in 1997. He was a friend ever since, always delighting me when I would call on occasion by starting with a cheerful “Ah Dearest Denise” in his distinct cultured accent. And then he would tell me of his latest adventures. He was truly a charming man and a gentleman in the most lovely sense. Harry, you will be missed.
Our deepest and heartfelt condolences to the family from Ameen Family, albeit 6 years late. My grandmother Mrs. Ameen fondly remembers Mr Harry Cahill who became a very close family friend during his time in India. He used to visit my late aunt at the pediatric hospital where she was undergoing treatment. He even climbed up 9 flights of stairs when the elevator wasn’t working, just to to see and cheer her up. Below is a picture of Mr Cahill attending my aunts wedding. The last memory we have of him is when he visited us in our home in LA when he came into the kitchen to prepare himself a masala chai. If there is anyway we can reach the family, we would love to reconnect.
Mr. Cahill used to visit our family in Mumbai and attended my daughter’s wedding in Chennai in 1984. He visited us in California in 1995 and made Indian tea with us. What a lovely person. We were just reminiscing about him. He is always in our memories.