Valley Stream bids its leader farewell

Hundreds of mourners at Holy Name of Mary Church paid tribute on Aug. 4 to Valley Stream Mayor Ed Cahill, who died at his home on July 31 of complications of a brain tumor. He was 82.

Tall white candles adorned the altar during the service, which was presided over by Msgr. Thomas J. Harold, pastor of Holy Name. And several family members, friends, residents and village and town officials filled the pews, including Hempstead Town Councilman Jim Darcy, who gave the eulogy.

“Ed was a man of duty, a man of faith and a man of love,” Darcy said. “During the last months of his diagnosis, Ed honored me by giving insight into his very being. I truly got to know Ed as a good and decent man we have come to love.”

Darcy recounted many memories of his friendship with Cahill, like when people would ask them if they were brothers, to which Cahill would playfully say “Yes” and ask the questioner, “Who looks older?” With an emotional tone, Darcy recalled Cahill’s early fascination with the Brooklyn Dodgers and his memorable “fist pump,” a symbolic gesture that Cahill used which gave comfort to Darcy.

“I remember when [Ed] went to a tryout for the Dodgers,” Darcy said. “He flirted with the idea of becoming a scout for the Dodgers by witnessing the tryout of a first baseman, who is player Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson.”

Darcy, who shared a 20-years-plus friendship and working relationship with Cahill, spoke of Cahill with pride, as he might of a family member. “Ed taught me what it means to deal with your faith,” he said.

In addition, Darcy said that in his last conversation with Cahill, he was instructed to say something of substance at the funeral service to help family and friends through this difficult day. “I wish I could find the words, but I will just give you the [fist] pump,” he said.

Cantor Renee Socci serenaded and invited the crowd of about 500 gathered in Cahill’s honor to sing hymns. Harold’s words offered them comfort.