Edward F. Callahan

Waltham – Mr. Edward F. Callahan, of Waltham, died Tuesday, January 1, 2013 at his home. He was 80.

Ed was born in Waltham on February 5, 1932, a son of the late Jeremiah J. and Mary E. (Lynch) Callahan, and had been a lifelong resident. After graduating from Saint Mary's High School in Waltham Ed joined the United States Marine Corps and served as a sergeant during the Korean War.

A year after getting out of the service he married his sweetheart, Joan R. Beaton, also of Lakeview at the 'old' Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church on September 17, 1955. The couple bought a home in the same neighborhood where they were raised and have been residents since. Ed spent thirty-two years working for AT&T, working his way up from a lineman position until he retired as a manager.

After he retired he took up politics and was elected six times to represent Ward 2 on the Waltham City Council, and where he served for a term as council president. After that Ed served on the Waltham Conservation Commission for a number of years, retiring from that position in 2009.

He and his family were lifelong and active members of Our Lady's Parish and where Ed was an usher for many years. Ed loved his family and worked hardest at being a good husband, father and provider. He also had a green thumb and took great pride in the flower gardens around his home and the yearly planting, tending and harvest of his vegetable garden. Another talent he possessed was being the rare man who not only owned all sorts of tools, but knew how to use them as well. His meticulously planned, stocked and labeled workshop is where he created all sorts of cherished furniture pieces that adorn the homes of his family and his friends.

In addition to his beloved wife of fifty-seven years, Joan, he leaves his children, Laura McCann and her husband, Damien, Mary Callahan, all of Waltham; Carolyn Hough and her husband, Kevin, of Natick, Kathleen Callahan of Waltham, Edward Callahan, Jr. and his wife, Tonya, of Pepperell, Andrea Russo and her husband, Anthony, of Lexington and Kelly Callahan of Waltham and her partner, Rick Anderer of Ayer; his grandchildren, Michael Morizio, Matthew Morizio, Scott Hough, Beverly Loynd, Patrick Hough, Trey Callahan, Shalee Callahan, Reed Callahan, Raelyn Callahan, Cade Callahan, Jace Callahan, Amanda Russo and Alicia Russo; his great-grandchildren, Alyssa Morizio, Brooke Morizio, Joseph Morizio, William Avila, Jacob Loynd, Ryan Hough and Sean Hough; his sister, Geraldine Boulton of Burlington and many nieces and nephews.

Ed was also a brother of the late Mary Barnes, John Callahan and Thomas Callahan.

Family and friends will honor and remember Ed's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Friday, January 4th from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning before leaving in procession to Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church, 880 Trapelo Road, Waltham where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Mount Feake Cemetery, Waltham.

Memorial donations may be made to Dana Farber Multiple Myeloma Cancer Center, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 or to the American Heart Association, 20 Speen Street, Framingham, MA 01701.