Mary Cahill, 67, of Binghamton and Lake George, NY, died on August 6, 2026, at Mercy House of the Southern Tier. She was predeceased by her partner Reinhold Asbeck, parents Thomas J. and Barbara Mangan, and brother Michael Mangan. She is survived by her daughters Maureen Cahill (Ramsey Ess) and Kathryn "Katie" Cahill (Tony Rogers), grandson Dominic Rogers, sister Ann Engle (Steve Engle), brother Thomas Mangan (Coleen Mangan), and several nephews, nieces, and cousins. She is also survived by her former husband, Philip Cahill.

Mary was born in Binghamton on December 18, 1958, and grew up on the West Side. She attended Binghamton Central High School, where she participated in band, choir, and other creative extracurriculars while working occasionally as a model for Fowler's Department Store. She graduated from Marywood University in Scranton, PA, with a dual degree in early childhood education and home economics education.

Mary taught for a few years in Boston and Binghamton, then took a career pause to start a family, stay home with her young daughters, and earn a master's degree in elementary education from Binghamton University. When Katie was old enough to start school, Mary restarted her career, taking a job as a kindergarten teacher at Thomas Jefferson Elementary. She eventually rose to the role of Assistant Superintendent of Instruction for the Binghamton City School District, after which she took on several leadership positions throughout the state, including Superintendent of the Lake George Central School District, Director of Curriculum and Instruction for the New York State Education Department, and Director of Educational Support Services at Capital Region BOCES, among others. While she enjoyed the opportunity to shape state and districtwide educational programs and curricula, she missed working directly with students. Her heart was always in the classroom.

Mary was known for her sharp wit and intellect, impeccable wardrobe, and artful use of curse words. She showed her love for friends and family by welcoming them to her home with elaborate charcuterie boards, designing flower arrangements for their milestone events, and calling them to catch up during her morning coffee. Her ideal outing was dinner at a great restaurant or, on a summer afternoon, taking in the view of Lake George from the veranda at the Sagamore Hotel. She instilled in her daughters a zero tolerance for nonsense (not the word she would have used), an appreciation for music and live performance, and the belief that they could achieve anything.

While the late stages of Mary's illness were challenging, she was grateful to the physicians, nurses, and staff of Broome Oncology, UHS Wilson Hospital, Memorial Sloan Kettering, and Glens Falls Hospital for giving her the gift of time after her terminal cancer diagnosis. She survived long enough to meet her grandson, Dominic: the light of the last months of her life.

Maureen and Katie would like to thank the exceptional team at Mercy House for their compassion and care, and Mary's friends in Binghamton, the North Country, Scranton, and beyond who supported her at every step throughout her illness. They are also grateful to all those who helped take care of Mary's beloved golden retriever, Ty.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Mary's memory may make a donation to Mercy House of the Southern Tier at 212 North McKinley Avenue, Endicott, NY 13760, or online at https://mercyhousesoutherntier.com/donate.html.

A Funeral Mass will be offered at St. Patrick's Church, corner of Oak and Leroy Streets, Binghamton, Saturday August 15, 2026 at 2 p.m. The family will receive friends at St. Patrick's Church Saturday from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m.. The Mass will be live streamed at www.sta-sp.org