Charles Dewitt Cahill

It is with most heartfelt sorrow to announce the sudden, but peaceful death of Charles D. Cahill on April 30, 2021. Charlie was born in Charlottetown, PEI on the 21st of March, 1949 and was the eldest child of Betty L. Cahill ( nee Lloyd) and Charles M. Cahill, Riverview, New Brunswick. Charlie is survived by his wife Arlene (nee Watts) and his beloved rough collies Aslan and Ailsa Craig. Charlie literally drove into my life in his classic red Triumph TR3 sports car while he was studying at Dalhousie University, Halifax. After that most fortuitous of meetings, we were constant companions until Charlie's death. We were fortunate to enjoy the most charmed of lives.

Charlie's lifelong friend Richard Cameron contributed the following memories:

“After graduating with a BA in English and Psychology in 1971, Charlie’s career took a number of turns before he found himself. He began his work life with the Royal Bank, like his father before him, but it was not a good fit. For a brief time, he was a DJ on late-night C100. Next, he held managerial positions in Halifax’s fast-food industry, and it was his work in advertising that kindled Charlie’s entrepreneurial spirit and his primal passion: a love of music and movies. To Charlie any opportunity to be able to tell stories with pictures and music was magic.

As a producer, Charlie had two film companies, Wharf Rat Productions and New Scotland Pictures. With his Nashville collaborator, Jim Spitler, he produced music videos across many genres, from pop to punk, from country to indigenous rock. But Charlie was most proud of his Christmas specials, which included music by the Barra MacNeils, the Celtic Angels and Canadian musical icon Sylvia Tyson and Quartette.

Intelligent, articulate and creative, Charlie also was a character. With a quick wit and a penchant for poetry, he wrote a number of humourous songs, and even penned a romantic comedy screenplay about the life of Giant MacAskill. He was a loyal friend and met his best buddies (Jim Grant and Rick Cameron) regularly for dinner and movie for more than three decades. His philosophy was simple: “follow your bliss,” which he did wholeheartedly. He prided himself in remaining fit and once ran the PEI marathon. Moreover, he did not lack ambition: he once attempted to lure the Beatles to perform in Halifax.

But his wife Arlene and their collie dogs (I believe there were nine!) were his joy, his solace and his inspiration. Longboat Key, Sarasota, Florida was the place he sought to recharge and relax; whereas London, England and Ayrshire, Scotland were the places, which inspired his creative spirit.

A special thank you to Christine Silver Smith, Shelia Harnish, Richard Cameron and Jim Grant for their unwavering support and comforting words during this most difficult of times.

Cremation has taken place. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date.