Dr. James "Jim" F. Cahill

Born in Columbus, Ohio, “Jim” spent his childhood in the small town of Attica, Ohio, where his father Robert Cahill and Mary Alice Cahill raised their six children. He developed his spirit of adventure through a range of hobbies, including hunting, fishing, trapping, delivering newspapers, playing basketball and cards. Jim attended Capital University in Colombus, before earning his Ph.D., from the University of Utah in immunology and medical microbiology. Jim had two of his three children in Utah, before settling in the Princeton area where he joined Princeton Laboratories and welcomed his third.

Among the highlights of Jim’s professional career, he launched the industry of “home” pregnancy tests. He also developed tests for hepatitis, and arthritis. He started his own company, North American Biologics, in Ft. Lauderdale Florida, marketing the test “EPT,” before returning to the Northeast. Jim went on to serve in leadership roles with Elkin Sinn, Revlon Healthcare Group and Rorer Pharmaceuticals, before returning to his professional roots in consulting with companies launching new drugs, through Cato Pharmaceuticals (as it was then known). He took great pride in the orphan drugs he helped bring to the market, and the lives that were positively affected by his work.

Jim loved playing cards, earning the childhood nickname “Maverick,” and was a young fan of the TV show “Gunsmoke.” He continued his joy of gardening into his later years. He married Ellen Cahill, in 1985. Along with her daughter, whom he welcomed into his heart, they settled in Richboro, Bucks County before moving to Ann’s Choice in Warminster, PA. Jim was an avid tennis player, loved fishing, pinball, Tetris and poker.

Jim is survived by his wife Ellen, his children, step-child and their spouses, Mia Cahill and Matt Sanidas, (Princeton, NJ), JC Cahill and Colleen Cassady St. Clair (Edmonton, Alberta), Andrew Cahill and Meaghan Shaughnessy (Denver, CO) and Cheryl and Bill Burns (Bellefonte, PA); his brothers Dallas, (Attica, OH), Joseph (La Verne, CA), and Thomas (Cary, IL), his nine grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Jim will be remembered for his curiosity, warmth and devotion to the people he loved. His legacy lives on in his family, his scientific contributions and in the countless lives he touched. In Jim’s memory, memorial donations may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation.

A visitation will be held Saturday, August 30, 2025, from 10:30AM - 11:30AM at Lamb Funeral Home, 101 Byberry Road, Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006. Followed by the funeral service at 11:30AM. Burial at 12:30PM at Forest Hills/Shalom Memorial Park.