Edward L. Callahan of Villanova, PA died on December 14, 2018 at age 80.  Ed is survived by wife Mary Ad and his 2 children, Molly and Andrew, as well as his sister Betty and his brother Patrick.

Ed was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota to Everett and Lorraine Callahan. He grew up among his 4 siblings – Tom, Mary Ann, Betty and Patrick. Upon graduating high school in Sioux Falls, Ed joined the Merchant Marine and traveled widely, particularly in Asia. Ed eventually ended up in New York city, where he attended Columbia University, School of General Studies and met his future wife, Mary Ad. Ultimately he, his wife and young daughter moved back to Mary Ad's hometown outside of Philadelphia. Though his four siblings also scattered across the country, Ed always looked forward to seeing them and their families at the yearly Callahan family reunions.

Throughout his life, Ed was passionate about politics and making the world a better place. He took great interest in the world around him and loved a good debate. He collected interesting anecdotes as well as books – his home library holds an eclectic collection of over 1200 well-read books.  He also enjoyed writing, especially Haiku, an art form in which he could celebrate the great pleasure he took in small things and, occasionally, his deadpan sense of humor. Many of his poems, such as the one below, were published in New Cicada International Journal of Haiku.

Even the big jar of coffee

will run out.

cold dark morning.

I walk and craunch

the snow and

I walk and craunch

The rich man's sky

in my backyard,

it's all mine!

Though raised as a Catholic, he later became a Buddhist and was a member of the Philadelphia Buddhist Association. In his wallet, along with photos of his family, his children's business cards and his ACLU membership card, he carried a quote from the Dalai Lama, "There is no need for temples, no need for complicated philosophies. My brain and my heart are my temple; my philosophy is kindness."

Until his recent hospitalization, Ed continued to take early morning walks at the Willows, follow politics, make jokes and wake his wife of 46 years with a cup of coffee in bed each morning. He also continued to write and he memorialized his 80 ^th birthday with a poem published in the Philadelphia Buddhist Association Newsletter.

Ed was a loving and beloved father and husband and a kind person. He made the world a better place and he will be missed. His compassion for others, sense of humor and wisdom will live on in the hearts of those who loved him.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the ACLU, 125 Broad Street, 18 ^th Floor, New York, NY 10004 (ACLU.org)  or The Nature Conservancy, 4245 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22203  (support.nature.org).

Old Age, Sickness, etc…

A poem by Ed Callahan

Today's my birthday,

I'm eighty years old,

I should be dead.

Death wouldn't be so bad

If only it didn't

last so long.

The thing about death –

nobody can experience it,

as has been said.

My last words –

"It has all been

very interesting."

Or maybe I'll quote

Wm. Hazlitt – "Well,

I've had a good life."

Completedest is a word

I have coined

for the occasion.

I should have

a few years left

to think of something.