Daniel Cahill

1961 - 2017

Daniel William Cahill
1961-2017
Daniel ("Danny") William Cahill, born October 5, 1961, in Chicago, Illinois, passed peacefully to the Lord at midnight April 25-26, 2017, in Houston, Texas, at the age of 55.
Born when Down Syndrome children had short life expectancies and few opportunities, Danny was a pioneer who benefitted from landmark legislation, modern medicine, and a devoted family.
Passage of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act placed Danny amongst the first generation of children with Down Syndrome entitled to public education. Access to public education allowed him to attend Bellaire High School where he learned to read, write, and do arithmetic. In the spring of 1984 at the age of 22 he graduated from Bellaire with a high school diploma. Enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act afforded Danny independent access to public transit and enabled him to become one of Houston METROLift's first subscription riders. The ability to ride METROLift independently allowed Danny to enjoy a productive career of over 20 years at The Center Houston's sheltered workshop.
Access to modern medicine kept Danny healthy and active until the last years of his life. Modern technology allowed him to communicate with others by using computers, and to participate in a study on aging at the Texas Medical Center aimed at helping to improve the lives of other people with Down Syndrome.
Danny always lived at home. He loved his family and friends, the number 5 and multiples of 5, visiting relatives in Chicago, bowling on Saturday mornings with Special Olympics, reading newspapers, playing cards, shooting pool, watching movies, and dancing. Danny's favorite holiday was Halloween. He counted cheeseburgers, onions, tomatoes, potatoes, chocolate cake, strawberries, and hibiscus tea amongst his favorite foods. Danny had a wonderful sense of humor, enjoyed life, harbored no prejudice, and gave and received loved unconditionally.
Danny is preceded in death by his mother, Dorothy O'Connor Cahill, and his father, Robert ("Bob") Daniel Cahill. He is survived by his two sisters, Jane Cahill West and husband Michael West, and Ann Clare Cahill and husband Mark Sandlin; one aunt, Mary Elizabeth ("Aunt Betty") Cunningham; and countless relatives and friends.
Thomas Pardue will conduct a grave site service at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 13, 2017, at Forest Park Cemetery, 12800 Westheimer, Houston, TX 77077, followed by internment next to his mother. Immediately thereafter a celebration of Danny's life featuring his favorite foods will be held at the home of Jane and Michael West. In lieu of flowers or other expressions of sympathy, the family suggests that memorials be sent to Houston Hospice, 1905 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030 or to The Center Houston, 3550 West Dallas, Houston, TX 77019.