Martin B. Cahill

Martin B. Cahill of Wareham, MA, age 82, passed away on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. He died peacefully at home in his sleep, surrounded by his family.  He was the beloved husband of Kathleen L. Cahill, to whom he was married for 56 years.

He is survived by his daughter Shannon Cahill and her partner Leigh Shenk of Boston, MA, his daughter Haley Cahill and her husband Benjamin Moore of Pawtucket, RI and his son Ben Cahill and his wife Smriti Lakhey of Washington, DC. He was predeceased by his daughter Erin Cahill of Wareham, MA. He is survived by three special grandsons, Keegan, Nikhil, and Sabin Cahill, whom he dearly loved.

He was the son of Thomas and Bridget Cahill of Dedham, MA, formerly of Co. Sligo and Co. Kerry, Ireland. He is survived by his sister Mary Canniff and her husband Joseph Mulkern of Buzzards Bay, MA, and his brother Kevin Cahill of Walpole, MA and his partner Deborah Stockbridge. He was preceded in death by his brother Thomas Cahill, who is survived by his wife Flor Cahill of Eastham, MA. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews and wonderful friends.

Marty was born in Roslindale and grew up in Dedham. He attended Cathedral High School in Boston and graduated from Bridgewater State University with a degree in education. After college, he taught high school science and then found his calling as a social worker for the state of Massachusetts. After ending his 30-year career at the Department of Social Services, he became an independent investigator for the juvenile court system, until he officially retired at age 80. He helped countless children and families in his fifty-year career in social services.

Marty had many interests and passions (some would say obsessions). At a young age, he read the dictionary for fun, and he loved learning, read widely, and had a wicked memory. He saw more than 30 countries, often traveling “on the cheap” with a backpack and scoffing at all-inclusive resorts, instead trying to connect with local people and immerse himself in their culture. He also loved exercise and focused on his health, becoming a vegetarian in his later years. Always an avid runner, he ran 13 marathons and many road races over the years, often with his best buds from work, Suzie, Terry, and Brenda. A bad knee forced him to shift to biking, and he biked daily until age 80.

He loved “sharing” his musical interests, ranging from opera to Pink Floyd to Irish music to oldies, often blasting his playlists in early morning to an unwilling family audience. He loved to talk, and fortunately he was always the funniest person in the room and had an endless supply of stories. He relished absurdities and loved nonsense. He was a character.

He was dedicated to his family and was a great husband, father, grandfather, father-in-law, and friend. There will never be another Martin B. In a line from his favorite movie, Marty, “you really did have a  wonderful life.”

Memorial visiting hours will be held on Monday June 23, 2025 from 3-5pm in the Wareham Village Funeral Home 5 Center Street Wareham, MA to leave a message of condolence for the family please visit www.warehamvillagefuneralhome.com

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