Joseph A. Callahan – Colonel, United States Army

Colonel Joseph A., U.S. Army Retired, 83, of Naples, Fla., died Wednesday, December 10, 1997, at Naples Community Hospital. He had been a resident of Naples since 1978, coming from Merrick, L.I., N.Y.

He was graduated “cum laude” with a B.A. degree in History from the University of Notre Dame in 1938 and received an M.S. in Education from Fordham University in 1952.

He entered the U.S. Army in 1938 upon his graduation from Notre Dame and rose from 2nd Lieutenant to Lieutenant Colonel during WW II. From 1940 to 1945, he served as a Unit Commander and on the staff of General George S. Patton, Jr. He made amphibious assault landings in North Africa, Sicily and France.

He left active service in 1946 when he joined the Army Reserve, retiring as Colonel in 1974.

From 1954 to 1959 he taught History, organized the athletics program, and coached football at St. Mary High School in Greenwich, Conn. From 1959 to 1976 he taught History and coached football at South High School in Valley Stream, L.I., N.Y. He was named High School Football Coach of the Year in Nassau County, N.Y., in 1965.

Col. Callahan was a member of the Notre Dame Club of Southwest Florida, the Fordham University Club of Southwest Florida, Retired Officer's Club of Collier County (Fla.), Military Order of the World Wars, 2nd Armored Division Association, American Order of the French Croix de Guerre, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge (WW II), Reserve Officer's Association and the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Mary; his beloved son, David and his wife, Karen, and their children, Breene and Beth, and his brother, William S. Callahan, Retired Air Force Colonel. Funeral services will be held Friday, December 19, 1997, at 1:45 PM, at Fort Myer Chapel at Arlington National Cemetery. Burial with full military honors will follow at graveside.

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