Harry Lloyd Cahill Jr.

Harry Lloyd Cahill Jr. passed away on June 2, 2026, with family at his side. Born April 24, 1933, in Baracoa, Cuba, to Harry Lloyd Cahill and Lavinia Barton Sims, he lost both parents at a very early age. After the death of his mother, Harry moved to Cutler Ridge, Florida, with his stepfather, Dr. Euclid Borland Gill. As a star on the Fort Lauderdale High School “Flying Ls” football team, he expected to play football for the University of Miami but a serious knee injury derailed his football career. Instead of college on an athletic scholarship, he joined the United States Marine Corps in June of 1953 and went on to serve in the United States Army. He served in the Korean War and then was part of the Seventh Army Occupation Force, driving a tank throughout Germany.

In 1958 Harry met and married the love of his life, Elizabeth Arden Cox, and they moved to Tallahassee where Harry furthered his education at Florida State and Arden taught speech. A year later, upon the arrival of the first of their five children, they returned to the New Orleans Westbank to raise their family.

Harry had a long career with the Prudential Insurance Company where he excelled as both agent and manager. With his small Westbank staff, Harry’s office outperformed every Prudential branch in the country. Harry also was a licensed contractor and Cahill Builders Inc. built many commercial buildings, family homes, and apartments on the Westbank. In 1968 he and his wife founded Arden Cahill Academy which now educates children from preschool through high school.

Harry was a proud member of the Westbank Rotary Club, which honored him as a Paul Harris Fellow. He was also a longtime active member of the Jesters Club, the founding social and Carnival organization behind the Knights of Babylon. A diehard football fan, Harry and his family are New Orleans Saints legacy season ticket holders (season tickets every year since the Saints 1967 inaugural season). Harry was also also a devoted parishioner of Holy Spirit Catholic Church.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth Arden Cox Cahill, his parents and stepfather, and his siblings Clarissa Cahill Goolsby (Walter), Lavinia Cahill Powell (Ralph), and Donald Barton Cahill (Lana).

Harry is survived by his children Harry Lloyd "Chip" Cahill III (Judith Windhorst Cahill), Jack Gerard Cahill (Tina Mosley Cahill), Mary Kevin Cahill (Joey Collen Wideman), Kelly Ann Cahill, and Dr. Christopher Nolan Cahill (Angelle Chedotal Cahill); his grandchildren Dr. Harry Lloyd Cahill IV (Dr. Maggie Joyner Cahill), Anna Marie Charles (Jeremy Charles), Luke John Cahill, Lieutenant Colonel Whitney Mithun O'Connell (James Scott O'Connell), Richard James Mithun Jr. (Jeni McDougald Mithun), Nicholas Cahill Mithun, Kelsey Corrin Cahill Wideman, Letha Michelle Wideman, Alona Joy Wideman, Mercy Ann Lindell, Nolan Ambrose Cahill (Abby Melling Cahill), Samson Elliot Cahill, Kaycie Ann Cahill, and Jack Michael Cahill; his great-grandchildren Harry Lloyd "Quinn" Cahill V, Rex Patrick Cahill, Amelia Rose Charles, Lincoln James O’Connell, Scotti Juliet Eilis O’Connell, Kelly Crews O’Connell, Mia Arden Mithun, Forest Drake Mithun, Liam Reco Tingle, Maverick Bear McGuire, and Joey Fabian Acosta; his cousin Katherine Martinez Tastet; and many loving family and friends. The family expresses deepest gratitude to Aurora Sierra, Cheryl Emery, and Wanda Cotton for their endless loving care.

Services will be held at Holy Name of Mary Church at 500 Eliza Street in New Orleans with visitation beginning at 9:00 a.m. and an 11:00 a.m. Funeral Mass to follow. Interment will follow at Westlawn Memorial Park at 1225 Whitney Avenue in Gretna.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes memorial donations to St. Michael Special School at https://www.stmichaelspecialschool.com/support-smss/ in the name of Harry L Cahill Jr.