THOMAS CALLAHAN

Thomas V. Callahan, 78
'A patriot and a principled man'
Thomas V. Callahan, 78, a longtime resident of Great Kills, Staten Island, N.Y., died on Jan. 12, 2017.
Born in Manhattan on Dec. 8, 1938, to Irish immigrants Neil and Anna (Downing) Callahan, Tom was raised in the Bronx. He moved to Staten Island in 1962 with the love of his life, Helen (Dolan) Callahan. They married at St. John Baptist De La Salle on March 3, 1962. They raised their children on Staten Island before relocating to Palm Coast, Fla., in 1995.
Tom was fiercely patriotic and served as a Military Policeman in the United States Army. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal for his exemplary service. He joined the New York City Police Department in 1965.
In 1977, he graduated magna cum laude from the New York Institute of Technology with a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice. He also attended the prestigious Police Management Institute at Columbia University. He held several posts in Staten Island during the '70s and '80s before going to the Licensing Division in Police Headquarters.
Once promoted to the rank of captain, Mr. Callahan was in charge of investigations in the Internal Affairs Division. He later became a deputy inspector assigned to the Intelligence Division before trading in his gun belt for a golf club in 1995.
Mr. Callahan never looked back. He embraced retirement with an active lifestyle which included golf, running, and biking, passions he shared with his wife. He later packed away his golf clubs after scoring a hole-in-one on two separate occasions, on the Palm Harbor Golf course in his home town. "This game is too easy," he would remark, "I need a challenge."
Mr. Callahan was predeceased by his son, Thomas, in 2007. He is survived by his wife, Helen; daughter Eileen Gutch, son Robert Callahan, son-in-law Richard Gutch (who often depended on Mr Callahan for professional guidance). He is survived by five grandchildren, Sheena, Ian, Brighid, Tadhg, and Zane Gutch, who would tell you, he really was the greatest.
A wake will be held at Clymer Funeral Home, 39 Old Kings Rd N, Palm Coast, Fla. 32137, on Wednesday, Jan. 18, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. The funeral will be held the following morning at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton at 11 am.
Tom was a principled man who loved his family and his country, and we loved him back, said his granddaughter, BrighidNora.