Gerald J.'Gerry' Callahan Obituary (1936

CHELMSFORD - Gerald J. Gerry Callahan, 79, longtime resident of Chelmsford, died peacefully on Monday, November 23, the day he and his beloved wife Irene celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary. In the final days of his long battle with cancer, Gerry was surrounded by his children and grandchildren at Atria Marland Place in Andover. Born in Boston on January 25, 1936, Gerry grew up in West Roxbury and graduated from Boston Technical High School. He earned a bachelors degree in electrical engineering from Northeastern. He was the son of the late Joseph J. and Marguerite (Maloney) and stepson of Jeanette (Poirier). He was proud to serve his country in the United States Army. Gerry was hired by Raytheon while still in college and spent the next 40 years with the company. In retirement, he could often be found at Dunkin Donuts in Chelmsford, sharing a muffin with Irene and reading the Boston Herald. For more than 50 years, Gerry was a fixture at St. Marys Church where he taught CCD and served as a eucharistic minister. He was an avid golfer and tennis player and a long-time member of Butter Brook Golf Club in Westford. He was a passionate fan of all the Boston sports teams, especially the Red Sox, but would choose to watch his grandchildren play anything over a trip to Fenway. In his younger days, Gerry coached Little League baseball and youth basketball in Chelmsford and volunteered to officiate hundreds of games. Gerry was a voracious reader with an odd affinity for big, thick, boring history books. He never took a sick day, never complained and never stopped loving his wife and living for his kids and grandkids. In addition to his wife, Gerry is survived by two sons, Gerald J. Callahan, Jr. and his wife Tracy of Andover and Tim Callahan of Chelmsford; two daughters, Maureen Sullivan of Westford and Denise Callahan of North Andover; nine grandchildren, Heather, Kim and her husband Matt, Kyle and his fiance Rachael, Brett, Tim, Shannon, Jackson, Lauren, and Erin; two great grandchildren, Reese and David; three sisters, Doris Mulhall of Ashland, Jean Fleury of Carver, and Rita Doherty of Chelmsford; and many nieces, nephews, and friends. He was also the brother of the late Joseph Callahan. Visiting hours on Friday from 4 to 8 pm at the BLAKE FUNERAL HOME 24 Worthen St., CHELMSFORD. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 9 oclock at St. Mary Parish, 25 North Rd., Chelmsford. PLEASE MEET AT CHURCH. Internment in Pine Ridge Cemetery, Chelmsford. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Gerrys name to Dana Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168 or at www.dana-farber.org. Visitation November 27, 2015 4:00pm - 8:00pm, Blake Funeral Home 24 Worthen Street Chelmsford, MA 01824 Service Information November 28, 2015 9:00am, Saint Mary Catholic Church 25 North Road Chelmsford, MA 01824 Please meet at church. Interment Location Pine Ridge Cemetery 130 Billerica Road Chelmsford, MA 01824