JAMES CAHILL

CAHILL, JAMES MAURICE CAPT. James Maurice Cahill, Dental Corps, U.S. Navy (Ret.), was born in Bradford, Illinois on May 22, 1928. Dr. Cahill (Jim) was born to Maurice Code and Elizabeth Ann Meehan Cahill. He had one younger brother, Dr. Bernard Cahill (who preceded him in death in 2008), and one younger sister, Mary Ellen Cahill, who was stillborn in 1936. Jim transitioned from this life in peace, at Balboa Naval Hospital early Sunday morning, March 25, 2012. He enjoyed growing up with the hard work, adventure, and freedom farm living offered a bright and hearty Midwest boy. His formal education began in a one-room school house, to which he commuted by horseback with his brother, until the 4th Grade, when he transferred to Saint John's Parish School, in "town." Although eventually proficient with both iPhone and iPad, as a boy he lived the transition from kerosene lanterns and wood-burning stoves, to electric power and indoor "facilities," recounting the day when he arrived home to marvel at the family's first 'single light bulb hanging from it's bare wire in the middle of the house.' He also lived the transition from beasts of burden to mechanized farming, remembering with affection the ritual of harnessing his father's "huge, beautiful, matched team of draft horses, ten feet tall at the ears, and as gentle as a good dog." Raised the son of a farmer, and the grandson of Pete Meehan, the town entrepreneur, blacksmith, merchant, and ex-horse trader on the Sioux Indian lands in the Black Hills of Dakota, Jim felt a lifelong affinity for Native Americans, horses, nature, and the wholesome joy of "just working with your hands-making something." Jim completed undergraduate studies at St. Ambrose University, with the aid of a football scholarship, and went on to dental school at Loyola University, prior to joining the United States Navy. Jim served in both land- and ship-based (2 years) clinics, including duty in tent-based camps during the Korean War, while on independent duty with Fleet Marine Forces, Western Pacific. He completed his military career as a Captain, after 5 years of active duty and 25 years as a reservist, retiring from his duty as the Senior Dental Officer at NASNI, Coronado. In civilian life, Jim proactively cultivated strong values of professional and civic responsibility. He served as a fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry, a member of the Gold Foil Operators, a member of the American and California Dental Associations (trustee and delegate), and of the San Diego Dental Society. He was also a founding member of the San Diego County Coroner's Office Disaster Team, playing a leading role in the PSA Flight 182 incident in 1978, and was a Staff Member of Mercy and Coronado Hospitals. He served as both President and Vice President of the San Diego County Dental Society, served on their Board of Directors, and chaired the Peer Review Committee for many years. He was the Director of both the Ariaudo Periodontal Study Club (10 years) and the John C. Metcalf Operative Dentistry Seminar (15 years). He was awarded honorary membership to the Alumni of UCLA Dental School, and was a fellow of both the Academy of General Dentistry and the American College of Dentists. He practiced general dentistry in Coronado for 31 years before retiring in 1991. He was a Life Member of both the NRA and VFW, a graduate of the FBI's Citizens' Academy, a District Chairman of the Boy Scouts of America, a Charter Member of the Coronado Council Navy League, a Life Member of the Naval Reserve Association and the Retired Officers Association (TROA), President of the Silver Strand Chapter of the Military Officers Association (MOAA), and served on the Board of Directors of Cal-MOAA Region VIII. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Coronado Roundtable, as a Trustee and President of the Coronado Library, and as a member of the Coronado Historic Resources Commission. In 1982, he was appointed by the governor to serve on the California State Historical Resources Commission, and was thereafter elected Chairman. Jim had the privilege of living in his beloved community of Coronado since 1957, and married Carol Cahill in 1959, who preceded him in death in 2001. Together, they raised six children: Adrienne Dente, Steven Dente, Gene Dente, Vincent Dente (who preceded him in death in 1996), Martha Torkington, and Jim Cahill, Jr. He had the great joy of welcoming 14 grandchildren: Caroline Rochfort Apriceno, Christine Rochfort Canton, Robert Rochfort III, Matthew Dente, Jonathan Dente, Jim Cahill Dente, Julia Dente, Katherine Dente, Todd Tuggle, Erica Dente (who preceded him in death in 1989), Thomas Dente, Elaina Dente, Stephen Torkington, Rodger Torkington; seven great-grandchildren: Korye Miller, Taylor Cahill Dente, Theo Tuggle, Claire Tuggle, Max Tuggle, Quinn Tuggle, and Nathan Dente; three nieces: Caroline Shepherd, Elizabeth Laita, and Maria Beslar; and one nephew: Bernard Cahill II. Just prior to his death, he smiled upon hearing from his eldest granddaughter that she was pregnant with her first child, joining a second expected newborn recently announced by his eldest grandson. Besides taking great pleasure in his family, Jim traveled widely with Trafalgar Travel, enjoyed horseback riding, attending the Del Mar Races, autocross racing with the Porsche Club, and reading extensively, with particular interest in Native American and Civil War history. He also enjoyed woodworking, gardening, hunting, fishing, lunch with old friends, encountering sundry odd characters, and cultivating the fine art of joke delivery and storytelling. His support of his family was unfailing. He held monthly gatherings, welcoming the entire extended family, which filled to the brim the old family home on Alameda Blvd. His attempts to carry on solo with Carol's family-favorite recipes were well-intended, with noteworthy success with the holiday turkey and stuffing. He did his best to instill the joy of his country childhood in his new urban children, building them rabbit hutches and pigeon cages, launching regular trips to the Sierras and local lakes, going horseback riding along the Mexican border, and practicing a saintly patience with an ever-growing menagerie of pets, from monkeys and foxes, to squirrels, miniature ponies, and lambs. Residents of Coronado will continue to enjoy the fruit of his outdoor values in the many open spaces, especially the Tidelands Park, for which he and Carol fought so diligently. The family wishes to thank all those who assisted our beloved patriarch in his life and recent transition, including, the exceptional staff at Balboa Naval Hospital. A service celebrating Jim's life will be held Tuesday, April 10th, at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 655 C Ave., Coronado CA 92118, with reception to follow on the premises. In lieu of flowers, please make any donations to Smile Train (http://support.smiletrain.org/ goto/cahillkids), his favorite charity who, like Jim, have worked tirelessly to transform the lives of children through compassion-in-action.