John Callan

1934 - 2013

John (Jack) Callan

John (Jack) Callan, 78, passed away at home in Tallahassee, FL on Tuesday, April 23rd, after an illness lasting several months.

The son of the late John Callan and Teresa Callan (née Grant), he was predeceased by his wife Jacqueline (née Stefanovitch) and his sister, Loretta Boylan. He is survived by his stepdaughter, Karen Celander, his grandsons, Clay, Sean and Bobby, his brother, Joseph Callan, and his brother-in-law, Tommy Boylan along with his nieces, Teresa, Debbie and Cathy and his nephews, Jim and Tommy and many caring and loving cousins and close friends.

Born on July 14, 1934 to hardworking and self-sacrificing Irish parents, he spent his formative years in NYC (mid-Manhattan) going nine years to Catholic schools there before deciding to prepare for the life of a Christian Brother at Barrytown, NY. After three years of High School, one year in the Novitiate and four years at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. (BA degree in French), he began his teaching career of thirty-two years, both as a Religious Brother and as a Lay Teacher. During this time he gained two Masters Degrees, one in Spanish from Middlebury College in Vermont, and the other in Theology from Manhattan College in Riverdale, NY.

In 1975, he married the love of his life, Jacqueline, French born and raised in Paris by her parents. Both Jack and she made many trips there during their 29 years of marriage. She was a French Teacher in Lincroft, NJ. They lived 14 years in Westfield, NJ before moving to Tallahassee in 1989 to be near her daughter and son-in-law Karen and Bill, and their children. Jack was very active during his years in Tallahassee. He was involved in his neighborhood, went to many theater and social events and, above all, loved to travel through Florida, the US, France, Ireland, Italy and all points in between.

He will be missed by many, many people - his family in Tallahassee, his family up North, his family in Ireland and his myriad of friends from school days with whom he kept close via e-mails, mostly accompanied by the many thousands of pictures he had taken over the years.

Thanks to Big Bend Hospice and to the caring compassionate ladies from Hopewell Home Health Care. The family extends gratitude to Jacquelyn, Miesha, Shonte, Tara and Teresa.

Goodbye and rest in peace, Jack. We all loved you so very much. Memorial Services for Jack will be held at a later date in Tallahassee and New Jersey. Bevis Funeral Home, 850-385-2193, www.bevisfh.com, is in charge of the arrangements.