John J. Callahan

John J. Callahan February 05, 1922 - June 08, 2008 Born in Toledo February 5, 1922 to Hugh and Anna (Mackin) Callahan, John passed away Sunday morning in his Sylvania Home. John attended Gesu elementarily school and was a graduate of Central Catholic High School in 1940, receiving his undergraduate degree from John Carroll University in 1949 and his law degree from the University of Michigan in 1952. John Married Joyce Teague of Bossier City, Louisiana in 1953 and she preceded him in death October 15, 2001. They had no children. He enlisted as an aviation cadet in the Army Air corps in February 1942 serving as an aerial navigator during World War II in South America with a photo-mapping squadron and in China, India and the Western Pacific theatre with photo-reconnaissance squadrons. Discharged in January 1946 he resumed schooling under the GI Bill of Rights. He practiced law in Toledo from August 1952 until shortly before his death, chiefly in the area of criminal defense. In his practice he was associated at various times with William T. Burgess, Gerald P. Openlander, William M. Connelly, Richard T. Secor and Charles E. Ide, Jr. He was awarded the "Order of the Heel" by the Toledo Junior Bar Association in 1971 and the "Distinguished Toledo Lawyer" award of the University of Toledo Law Alumni Association in 1989. He was honored by the Ohio Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union in 1986 for his efforts in opposing capital punishment. In 1982 he was elected to membership in the American College of Trial Lawyers. He was a member of the Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio and American Bar Associations. He was president of the Toledo Bar Association in 1969-1970. His club memberships include the "Fifth Thursday Club". He is survived by his sisters, Kathryn Ann (Norman) Craig, Rosemary McHugh, a brother, Hugh P. (Shirley) Callahan, all of Toledo and sister, Margaret Ellen LaFayette of Bowling Green, Ohio He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. A memorial Mass will be celebrated Tuesday June 17, 2008 at 12 noon in St. Joseph's Church, Sylvania.

John J. Callahan

February 5, 1922 - June 8, 2008