Final Salute

Edward F. Callahan, Jr. passed away April 16, 2025, on his 96th birthday. Ed Callahan was raised in Arlington, MA where he graduated from Arlington HS and then Northeastern University with a BS in Civil Engineering with Magna Cum Laude honors. He was accepted into the USN Officers Candidate School in 1953 and was commissioned as an Ensign in 1954. He served for 20 years as a Naval Officer, retiring in 1974 as a Commander in the Civil Engineer Corps. His last tour was at the Public Works Center at Naval Station Norfolk. His service included tours in Seoul, Korea; Rhode Island; Hawaii; Tennessee; Maine and Puerto Rico. Commander Callahan was the recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Defense with star, and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.

Ed and his first wife Barbara moved to Chesapeake in 1969 and raised their family in the Indian River area. After his Navy service he was a lead consulting engineer with Joe Glenn & Associates/Glenn Rollins Associates. He was known for working on many projects in Norfolk and Portsmouth that transformed their industrial waterfronts into Town Point Park, Waterside and the Seawall, as well as for extensive work for the US Navy at many East Coast facilities. After retiring from private practice, Ed and his second wife Mary enjoyed retired life in Virginia Beach for many years.

Ed Callahan is predeceased by his wife Mary Briggs Callahan; parents, Edward F. Callahan, Sr. and Alice Lyons Callahan; and sisters Alice Coughlin and Joan MacDonald. He is survived by his sister Kathleen Alderson; four children: Daniel Callahan of Norfolk, Dr. Mark Callahan of Watersound Beach, FL (Lisa), Andy Callahan of Chesapeake and Maureen Callahan (John Champagne) of Atlanta and his grandson Drew Callahan. Those who wish to honor Ed may choose to make a donation to the American Cancer Society in his memory.
Published in:Virginian Pilot
from May 4, 2025