Obituary of Alfred T. Cahill

Alfred T. Cahill July 07, 1933 - May 08, 2011 Alfred T. Alfred T. "Ray" Cahill., age 77, passed away at Danbury Hospital on Sunday, May 8th 2011 after a 15 year battle with pulmonary fibrosis surrounded by his family. He was the beloved husband of 54 years to Laura B. Cahill. Ray was born July 7, 1933 in Danbury, CT, son of the late Alfred T. "Ozzie" and Elizabeth "Betty" (DeGross) Cahill. Ray was a lifelong resident of his beloved Danbury, and attended Locust Avenue and Danbury High School. A veteran of the U.S. Army, Ray enlisted in the Army National Guard at 16 years old. He attained the military rank of Corporal, Battery "B" 963d Arty BN, 43rd Infantry Division having served in Germany. He was honorably discharged, July 1954, where he was awarded the Army of Occupation, Carbine, and National Defense medals. He married his lifelong sweetheart, the former Laura A. Branca, on September 8, 1956 at Saint Edwards the Confessor Church in New Fairfield, CT. For a decade, Ray owned a gas station and garage. He worked for Barden Corporation for 18 years and left to become a successful businessman. Ray and Laura owned and operated Cahill's Package Store on 168 Osborne Street, Danbury, CT from 1972-1988. After retiring from the liquor store business, Ray's life was marked by service to his beloved City of Danbury, community, and church. Over the past 20 years, Ray served on multiple nonprofit boards including Dystonia Medical Research Foundation/Greater New York Chapter where he worked tirelessly to raise funds and awareness for a cure. He was a devote Roman Catholic, a parishioner of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church where he served as an usher for Sunday Mass. Ray was an active member of the Catholic War Veterans Post 1042, and the Danbury YMCA. Ray's favorite hobbies were playing guitar and weekly card games with the "La Dolce Vita Board of Directors". Deeply loved by his family, Ray is survived by his wife Laura, and their three daughters - the "McGuire Sisters" - Donna Blackman and her husband Bruce Blackman of Cotuit, MA and their two children Kathryn and William Blackman, Laura Cahill and her husband James T. Hemphill of Glastonbury, CT and his son James B. Hemphill, Doris Cahill and her husband Andrew Zelman of Southborough, MA and their two children, Sharon and Natalie Zelman, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, Patrick Cahill, and his canine friend "Rex". Funeral Information There will be no calling hours. Friends and family are invited to celebrate Ray's life at a Memorial Mass to be held on Wednesday, May 11th at 10:00 am at St. Joseph's Church, at the corner of 8 Robinson Avenue and Main Street, Danbury, CT. Arrangements by the Cornell Funeral Home, 247 White Street, Danbury, CT. Donations Information In lieu of flowers, contributions in Ray's memory may be made to Dystonia Medical Research Foundation, One East Wacker Drive, Suite 2810, Chicago, IL 60601 www.dystoniaFoundaton.org or YMCA, 12 Boughton Street, Danbury, CT 06810 www.regionalymca.org/boughton_location.htm.