Save Argos Legend Leo Cahill

[1971GreyCup]

I got a nice note back from JP Peterson. "thanks Bill that's such a blessing! The fans have been so amazing.His granddaughter is reading the well wishes to him huge smiles"

[argos1873]

Glad to see people coming to the aid of Leo financially. The last thing he needs to worry about after surgery is finances, especially at his age. Having had major abdominal surgery twice I know how difficult it is to recover from. I had one 2 years ago at age 40, and I'm still not fully recovered, but I bet even at 88, Leo is tougher than me. Thoughts and prayers to Leo on his recovery.

[Will]

Zenon Andrushyshyn also donated.

[Argo57]

Always loved Cahill, quite a character who gave Argonaut fans many years of entertainment.
If possible pay it forward.

[1971GreyCup]

Update $20,000!

JP Peterson wrote today: Thanks so much to all the fans who have donated to Leo's care the response has been overwhelming. The family cannot thank you enough. His Granddaughter Rebecca Rose has been reading him your comments and it has truly lifted his spirits. You all are such a blessing.
Since Leo worked so long in Canada they are telling us he is not eligible for medicare or VA benefits even though he fought on the front lines of Korea! So it is up to us to pay for his very expensive care. Some have asked about my connection...Rebecca and I are very close and she asked me to reach out to fans through social media.

At this time we are trying to find a facility that will take him but all of the better and most equipped facilities have a long waiting list so we will keep searching for answers. If anyone has any ideas please post them here.

Thanks again and God Bless all of you who have given.

[ArgoGabe22]

I hate to bring attention to the donors but it's nice seeing former players, former employees, owners (Cynamon & Sokolowski), MLSE executives like Masai Ujiri (Brendan Shanahan?) and ex-executives like Alex Antholopolous all come together to help out. Shows how strong the CFL community is.

[AngeloV]

I hate to bring attention to the donors but it's nice seeing former players, former employees, owners (Cynamon & Sokolowski), MLSE executives like Masai Ujiri (Brendan Shanahan?) and ex-executives like Alex Antholopolous all come together to help out. Shows how strong the CFL community is.

Agree with this 100%. Ujiri especially went above and beyond considering he has nothing to do with the Argos, and really never has.

[1971GreyCup]

Argos CFL Board rep., Dale Lastman stepped up very early. A number of Argos players that played for Leo including Dave Cranmer gave too.

[Argo57]

Leo Cahill now knows that he still matters and is fondly remembered by a great number of people.........priceless!

[1971GreyCup]

Over $22,000! Bob Bratina with a donation.

[1971GreyCup]

Love reading the names from the past. Zeke O'Connor just gave.

William Francis "Zeke" O'Connor, Jr. (born May 2, 1926) is a retired American football end who played five seasons in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and Canadian Football League (CFL) in the late 1940s and early 1950s. After retiring, O'Connor went into business and devoted himself to helping Nepalese Sherpas.

O'Connor grew up in a large Catholic family in New York City and went to college at the University of Notre Dame. After starting for Notre Dame's football team as a freshman in 1944, he spent two years in the U.S. Navy during World War II and played for a service team at Naval Station Great Lakes that was coached by Paul Brown. O'Connor returned to Notre Dame in 1946 and graduated in 1947, but he did not play in his senior year because of a knee injury.

O'Connor signed in 1948 with the Buffalo Bills of the AAFC, where he played for one year. He was then traded to the Cleveland Browns, another AAFC team coached by Brown. The Browns won the AAFC championship in 1949, but O'Connor was cut early the next year and played one season for the minor-league Jersey City Giants. He next had a one-year stint with the New York Yanks of the National Football League before his playing career in the CFL with the Toronto Argonauts. A late-game touchdown catch by O'Connor helped the Argonauts win the Grey Cup in 1952.

[DanoT]

I grew up in Hamilton and have lived most of my life in B.C. so I have never been an Argo fan, but I loved Leo the Lip and his hilarious and sometimes outrageous one liners. Leo Cahill was the best, most colourful of colour commentators on CFL TV broadcasts ever.

Get well Leo.

[1971GreyCup]

The Slaight Family of Toronto (from Standard Radio & big Pinball Foundation Supporters) donates $5,000 to take the total to almost $30,000 USD.

Leo's good friend Donald S. Cherry stepped up too and left a very kind note. Amazing

[1971GreyCup]

Wonderful story from George Gross Jr. "Hi Leo: I hope that the support from everyone will help you with everything you need medically to get well soon. I still tell the story of how you went after a taxi cab and got my sports bag back from the car's door handle and gave it to my dad to give back to me. It is hard to believe that that was over 50 years ago! Feel well and be strong. Sincerely, George Gross, Jr."

[doubleblue]

Love reading the names from the past. Zeke O'Connor just gave.

William Francis "Zeke" O'Connor, Jr. (born May 2, 1926) is a retired American football end who played five seasons in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and Canadian Football League (CFL) in the late 1940s and early 1950s. After retiring, O'Connor went into business and devoted himself to helping Nepalese Sherpas.

O'Connor grew up in a large Catholic family in New York City and went to college at the University of Notre Dame. After starting for Notre Dame's football team as a freshman in 1944, he spent two years in the U.S. Navy during World War II and played for a service team at Naval Station Great Lakes that was coached by Paul Brown. O'Connor returned to Notre Dame in 1946 and graduated in 1947, but he did not play in his senior year because of a knee injury.

O'Connor signed in 1948 with the Buffalo Bills of the AAFC, where he played for one year. He was then traded to the Cleveland Browns, another AAFC team coached by Brown. The Browns won the AAFC championship in 1949, but O'Connor was cut early the next year and played one season for the minor-league Jersey City Giants. He next had a one-year stint with the New York Yanks of the National Football League before his playing career in the CFL with the Toronto Argonauts. A late-game touchdown catch by O'Connor helped the Argonauts win the Grey Cup in 1952.

I remember Zeke O'Connor. Not so much during his playing days, but as a commentator on the old CFRB Argo radio broadcasts. Funny how you remember things. I remember a clip of Zeke reporting from the sidelines pregame when the Chicago Cardinals played the Argos way back when. He said he was standing near the sidelines talking with Argo DE Dick Fouts when the Cardinals took the field running past them. Zeke said I'm 6"4 and Dick is 6"6 and these guys are making us look small. That must have been 1960 when the Argos had just signed former NFL star QB Tobin Rote. I believe Coach Lou Agase held Rote out of the game (probably for his own safety) and started rookie John Henry Jackson. Jackson couldn't move the team so Agase finally put in veteran backup QB and playing Coach Nobby Wirkowski. Nobby did move the team some until he got sacked and tore knee ligaments pretty well ending his playing career. Cookie Gilchrest left a few Cardinals seeing stars during that game running over and through them. Cookie never needed much blocking.

[doubleblue]

The Slaight Family of Toronto (from Standard Radio & big Pinball Foundation Supporters) donates $5,000 to take the total to almost $30,000 USD.

Leo's good friend Donald S. Cherry stepped up too and left a very kind note. Amazing

Great to see this. How a bunch of Argo fans could step up and help out Leo. He gave a lot to the Argos and Toronto in his time here.

[1971GreyCup]

Approaching $32,000!

Nice note and donation from CFL Alumni: "The CFL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION has been in contact with the Cahill Family. Leo is going to be provided the care and comfort he deserves in his fourth quarter in the game of life. We would like to acknowledge the ARGOS ALUMNI and the ARGOS FOOTBALL CLUB who have made a generous donations directly to the family."

[jerrym]

Approaching $32,000!

Nice note and donation from CFL Alumni: "The CFL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION has been in contact with the Cahill Family. Leo is going to be provided the care and comfort he deserves in his fourth quarter in the game of life. We would like to acknowledge the ARGOS ALUMNI and the ARGOS FOOTBALL CLUB who have made a generous donations directly to the family."

Great news! Many of my best memories as an Argo fan involved Leo, who ended the long streak of poor teams in the 50s and 60s.

[1971GreyCup]

Leo Cahill Fundraiser Update: $33,325 public donations, or +33% above goal.

I just love reading the CFL names from the past as donations keep coming in. In many way, it brings back those halcyon days. It is nice to see that Ed Learn's post-CFL days were very successful.

Ed Learn
2 days ago

"All the best Leo. Thanks for all the help you gave to me as a player. Best coach I ever played for."

[gilthethrill]

Leo Cahill now knows that he still matters and is fondly remembered by a great number of people.........priceless!

When speaking about an opposing DB...."That guy is so short he has to stand on a brick to kick a duck in the ass"....May Mr Cahill enjoy many more years of quality life.