Obituary of Thomas J. Callahan

Thomas J. Callahan, 97, well known retired Peabody High School teacher, died Monday at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers after a short illness. He was the husband of Kathryn (Sweeney) Callahan with whom he shared 68 years of marriage. He was born in Salem, MA on March 30, 1912, the son of the late John and Annie (Phillips) Callahan and was raised and resided in Peabody and later in Danvers most of his life. Tom was a graduate of the Peabody School System and later graduated Summa cum Laude at Boston College. He received his Masters degree from Boston University. He was a distinguished veteran of WW II serving overseas with the US Army and was a Purple Heart recipient with the 536th field artillery unit in Italy. Following his discharge, he began his teaching career at the Peabody School System where he served for more than forty years and was the head of the English Department at Peabody High School prior to his retirement 32 years ago. He also taught civics and English as a second language at the night school program for many years. He enjoyed coaching the basketball and baseball teams of the Farnsworth School in Peabody. In his retirement, he helped the Carmelite Nuns in Danvers with various projects there. He enjoyed cruising and taking trips to Thailand and California and Bermuda. He also liked using the computer to keep in contact with his children around the world. Surviving him besides his wife are two daughters, Sister Teresa (Patricia) O.Carm of the Discalced Carmelite Nuns of Danvers and Elaine and her husband Ed Schneider of West Chester, PA, his two sons, Thomas J. Callahan and his wife Yupadee of Bangkok, Thailand and John Francis Callahan of Escondido, CA, 8 grandchildren, 4 great Grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the James and Cornelius Callahan and Mary Whelton. A Concelebrated Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday at 11:00 AM at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Monastery, Mt. Carmel Road, Danvers, MA. A visitation will be held there on Saturday from 9:30 until 10:45 prior to the Mass. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Salem. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Discalced Carmelite Nuns 15 Mt. Carmel Road, Danvers Ma. 01923 in his memory.