Jerome Wood Cahill

Jerome (Jerry) Wood Cahill, 83, passed away on December 12, 2020. Jerry was born February 3rd, 1937 to John Joseph (Joe) and Emma Eliza (Wood) Cahill in Atlanta, Georgia. His family moved to Kansas City early in his childhood, where he attended St. Francis Xavier Grade School, Rockhurst High School, and Rockhurst University. He enjoyed his professional life in pharmaceutical sales for nearly 40 years, working for Lederle/Wyeth Drug Companies. Most important to Jerry was his family life. He married the love of his life, Alexandra (Sandy) Brous, on October 28, 1961. They celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2011.

He and Sandy raised four loving children together - Jerome (Jay), Kathleen, Michael, and Jimmy. As they raised them, Jerry and Sandy stressed the importance of family and kindness. Jerry was frequently found coaching their basketball teams, driving to early morning swim practices, and being the loudest fan at all of their sporting events. While he was so proud of his children, he was most proud of his grandchildren. He was “Coco” to his 8 grandchildren, great nephew and niece, and great-granddaughter.

Jerry spent his retired life attending countless sports games, studying his and Sandy’s family history, playing duplicate bridge (attaining Life Master status in the American Contract Bridge League), traveling to New Mexico, and sampling all of Sandy’s baked goods, working them off with daily visits to “the Gym”. He was arguably KU Basketball’s and the Kansas City Royals’ number one fan, watching and recording every game he could. Jerry was a friend to all he encountered and embodied what it means to have “a kind heart.” He had a way of making any person he met feel as if they were the most important person in the world.

Jerry is preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Emma, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jim and Barbara Brous, and grandson Jimmy Gorman. He is survived by his wife Sandy; children Jay Cahill (Alisa), Kathleen Gorman (Michael), Michael Cahill (Allison), and Jimmy Cahill (Catherine); niece Babette Moore (Jeff); grandchildren Katie Bechina (Mike), Maggie Taulbee (Austin), Jack and Molly Cahill, Ben and Joe Cahill, and Sal Cahill; great nephew Scott Moore, great niece Alexa Whitmer (Kylan); and great-granddaughter Anna Bechina. He also leaves behind countless friends from every stage of his life, especially his lifelong friend James Balestrere.

Catholic Mass of the Resurrection will be at 10:00am on Thursday, December 17, 2020, at Church of the Nativity in Leawood, KS. Face masks are to be worn at all times. There will be no visitation, and Mass will be live-streamed via Church of the Nativity’s website (https://kcnativity.org/) beginning at 9:55am. In lieu of flowers, Jerry’s family asks that donations be made to Rockhurst High School (9301 State Line Road, Kansas City, MO 64114), designated to the James M. Gorman Memorial Scholarship Fund.