Thomas Joseph Callahan

Thomas "Tom" Joseph Callahan, age 74, passed away Friday, August 2, 2019 in Dublin, Ohio. Born July 11, 1945, in Columbus, Ohio, Tom joined Northwest Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 1975 and remained a member for life. Tom is proceeded in death by his soulmate and wife of 44 years Lilibeth (Graham) Callahan, his parents Frank R. Callahan and Mary M. (Kienle) Callahan of Columbus, Ohio. Tom is survived by his son Patrick Callahan of Columbus, Ohio, daughter Katharine Callahan and grandson Graham Harms, both of Charlotte, North Carolina, as well as brother and sister-in-law Michael and Jane Callahan, and nieces and nephews Michelle Callahan, Matthew and Suzi Callahan and Marc and Toni Callahan. Additionally, Tom is survived by his special "country cousins" Don and Mary Alice Wentzel, Robin and Andy Shockney, and Michael and Keri Wentzel, plus numerous first cousins, and many extended younger family members, all of whom he loved very much.

Tom attended Saint Agatha School in Upper Arlington, graduated from Bishop Watterson High School in 1963 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Franklin University in 1967. He grew up and lived in Upper Arlington, Ohio most of his life. In 1964, Tom joined the family business, The Blade Manufacturing Company, manufacturer of circular saw blades. He was active in outside sales alongside his father for many years before becoming Vice President of Sales and later Co-Owner. Tom cultivated many funny stories and important life lessons while managing the business, which he used to both humor and guide others in the ways of the world. In particular, until his retirement in 2004, Tom served as a workplace mentor, Buckeye Football Historian and special uncle to his nephew who operates the 73-year old company today.

Tom's primary focus in life was his devotion and true love for his wife "Beth." They were a perfect couple together, the best parents and role models for their children, upstanding and contributing members to their church and community organizations, excellent neighbors, and decent, hard-working citizens. Tom and Beth had a rare ability to lift up everyone who intersected with them in life. They were remarkably kind to strangers and people of all walks of life. They had an innate ability to serve as a confidant to all who needed one, and Tom and Beth certainly were the Life of the Party.

Some of Tom's family's fondest memories are of the few short years when both Beth and Tom enjoyed and cared for their grandson when he was toddler. Tom and Beth provided great daycare relief to his parents, watching, entertaining, and even making up silly games with him every week when it was their turn to care for him. Tom definitely planted the Buckeye seed in his grandson.

Beyond his family and professional life, some of Tom's happiest accomplishments in life included attending over 250 Ohio State Football games, as well as every home game from 1968 - 1975, plus all home games in 2002. He went with his family and won "The Game of the Century" in 2006 and The Rose Bowl in 2010, aka "The Greatest Game Ever." In later years, Tom immensely enjoyed OSU thrashing UM together with his grandson and children in his own living room. On the golf course, Tom was unusually gifted with a 2 iron. Tom also was Manager of the Northwest Christian Church Men's Softball Team from 1979-1984. In his final season, the team miraculously won the first Monday Night League Championship in church history, and carried Tom off the diamond on their shoulders.

In addition to his kindness, gentle spirit, and good nature, Tom had an incredibly wry and witty sense of humor. Moreover, his family knew him to be the most well-read man they had ever known. His command of American history, world history and especially World War Two was academically impressive. His knowledge was so vast (and legitimate), he once excitedly exclaimed "I don't need to log online anymore! …The Internet; I finished it!" Indeed, Tom and Beth were avid collectors of countless books and esoteric collections, but Tom especially loved collecting all types of ephemera. To compliment to their intellectual and cultural lives, Tom and Beth traveled extensively together throughout the United States, Central America, the Caribbean, Europe and North Africa.

Tom loves and is loved by his wife, children, grandson and extended family more than words allow. On this Earth, as a husband, father, grandfather, uncle and family member, he distinguished himself by always putting his family first. Moreover, during his life, he consistently encouraged his wife and children to aggressively pursue opportunities and new experiences that he had not had himself earlier in life. Tom's Christian faith, selflessness and dedication to family is his legacy that shall never be forgotten by anyone who was blessed enough to know him.

Funeral Service is 12 PM Friday, August 9 at Northwest Christian Church, 1340 Fishinger Rd., Columbus, Ohio 43221. Calling hours 11 AM -12 PM. Interment at Union Cemetery.

The family kindly requests in lieu of flowers, please donate to the Northwest Christian Church Foundation, 1340 Fishinger Road, Columbus, Ohio 43221.

Danny Boy

Oh, Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling

From glen to glen, and down the mountain side.

The summer's gone, and all the roses falling,

It's you, it's you must go and I must bide.

But come ye back when summer's in the meadow,

Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow,

It's I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow,

Oh, Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so!

But when ye come, and all the flowers are dying,

If I am dead, as dead I well may be,

You'll come and find the place where I am lying,

And kneel and say an Ave there for me.

And I shall hear, though soft you tread above me,

And all my grave will warmer, sweeter be,

For you will bend and tell me that you love me,

And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me!