John Philip "Phil" Callihan

John Philip "Phil" Callihan passed away suddenly in Sarasota, Florida, on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at the age of 40, in a tragic pedestrian accident. He was born on August 14, 1983, in Nashville, Tennessee. Phil grew up in Franklin, Tennessee, and attended Holly Tree 3, Grassland Elementary School, and Battle Ground Academy. He graduated magna cum laude from Vanderbilt University in 2005, where he was on the Dean's List and was inducted into Phi Alpha Theta history honor society. He was also an active member of the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity.

Phil led a big life. His years were joyful, vibrant, and filled to the brim with experiences that many people only dream of, and that is exactly how he loved it. He had many adventures, from working as a much-adored snowboard instructor in Colorado to working on oil rigs as a well-site geologist and crew chief in the Permian Basin in New Mexico and Texas. He traveled to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia as a broadcast service technician, and utilized his talents as a banker in Tennessee. He always knew how to bring fun and magic to any role he took on. Not only did he share his love with the people close to him, but he loved working with young people, volunteering with Junior Achievement and the YMCA. While in high school and college, he supported the Appalachian Service Project, Mountain T.O.P., and Habitat for Humanity by providing warm and safe housing for others.

Phil loved learning about other cultures and people and traveled the world, never meeting a stranger. Phil's superpower was the way he connected with and cared for people across the years and across the miles. He never forgot a birthday, anniversary, or meaningful date for his friends and family. He was passionate about life, family, and friends. His friends all became family for Phil, too. He had a beautiful gift for making people feel special, more than any other person you'll ever meet. He let his feelings shine, never shying away from an "I love you," bringing light everywhere he went. He loved his family more than anything, exemplified by a special tattoo of the names of his parents and siblings on his shoulder.

Phil had a strong intellect and a passion for music, games, and puzzles. He performed in church choir, school chorus, church and school plays, and musical productions, including his starring role of Danny Zuko in Grease. He spread joy playing his guitar, singing, and entertaining his friends and family. He loved a rousing game of Spades or Mah-Jongg, and he was always up for an energetic round of disc golf with his brother, Stephen, and friends across the country.

Sports were also among Phil's passions. Snowboarding, skiing, skateboarding, water skiing, wakeboarding, and rock climbing were some of his favorite activities. His love of baseball started in Little League, and later in life transformed to passionately following his favorite professional baseball team, the Tampa Bay Rays. Phil was also an avid Tennessee Titans fan and always knew the players, stats, and standings of his two favorite teams. The Titan's and Ray's baby blue were a favorite color of his, and he sported it on many crocheted hats, blankets and accessories lovingly made by his sister, Jean.

Phil was an animal lover and was beloved by all the dogs in his life: Biscuit, Wrinkles, Lou, Nala, Keller, Harper, Maximus, Karmann, Susie, and Alanis. In Sarasota, his faithful dog, Alanis, was his regular companion on most of his adventures. Phil and Alanis walked miles every day and were well-known in Red Bug Slough Preserve in Sarasota, Florida. Red Bug was Phil's favorite park, and he and Alanis walked, knew, and loved every inch of it, made extra special when he got to share the love of the park and its turtles with his beloved niece, Isabel.

Phil is survived by his loving parents, Margaret and Matt Callihan of Galveston, Texas; his beloved sister, Jean Callihan of Sarasota, Florida; and brother and sister-in law, Stephen and Melanie Callihan of Sugar Land, Texas. Phil is also survived by Stephen's and Melanie's daughters, the nieces he so adored, Isabel and Sophia. In addition to his immediate family, he is survived by his loving uncle and aunt, John and Missy Lynch, close cousins, and many friends that might as well be family, who loved him dearly.

Our family expresses thanks and appreciation to Toale Brothers Funeral Home & Crematory in Sarasota, Florida, for the compassionate care shown to us at the end of Phil's life.

A Celebration of Life will be held for Phil on Saturday, June 22, from 2:00 - 5:00 pm CDT at the Galveston Country Club, 14228 Stewart Road, Galveston, TX 77554. Any and all are welcome to join us to celebrate Phil and his incredible life. Please let the family know if you plan to attend.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040F44A8A928A6FF2-49616238-phil

The SignUpGenius link is also available on Facebook: Margaret Callihan

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the following causes Phil loved, or to the charity of your choice.

The Humane Society

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital