Callahan Touched Many Lives Before Untimely Passing

Before most of you knew who he was, or all he would eventually stand for during his epic time on Earth, Mahopac’s Dan Callahan granted me an interview his senior year at Lakeland High back in the wee ‘90s.

I was just starting out on the Section 1 circuit as a 20-something-year-old scribe, and Cally, barely 17, was just getting started on a lifetime of wonderful achievements. 

We connected that season, and that bond, to this day, never broke. His calm, quiet assuredness was evident back then, and he eventually brought it with him to places like Yorktown, where he coached the Huskers to a Section 1 football title in 1998, Pelham, Hen Hud and Peekskill. Every stop along the way, Cally changed lives, made folks better people and had an impact on everyone he touched. 

Even on that crazy day at the County Center against Mount Vernon. A talented Lakeland team had just won a Section 1 Class AA quarterfinal and the mighty Knights were up next. The sixth man simply couldn’t resist.

“We’re serving notice to Mount Vernon and the rest of Section 1,” Cally boldly proclaimed after a quarterfinal triumph that had the Hornets County Center-bound.

Of course, I played that up, and put it in a giant breakout quote in the old North County News. Callahan was promptly taken to task for speaking out of turn at the Hornets’ next practice, but he stood by it, even after Lakeland was cooked from the opening tap in the sectional semis when Mount Vernon superstar Rasul Salahuddin slammed one home within five seconds at the Mecca. Callahan wasn’t afraid to speak his mind on behalf of anyone, and he would always stand up for anybody that needed a helping hand. 

His time on Earth, which was cut short last weekend after complications from colon cancer, was spent at the behest of others. A role model in his community as a CYO/MSA coach and representative, an assistant superintendent in Peekskill, an honor student at Siena College, anywhere he went Coach Callahan was at the top of his game no matter the many challenges he faced, including losing his son, Sean, at age 12, to a battle with medulloblastoma, a rare form of brain cancer in 2015.

“To know Dan, was to love Dan,” said Putnam County judge, Siena soulmate and longtime friend Tom Jacobellis, who met Callahan in the late ‘80s while they attended rival high schools and Cally was the bridge between Lakeland and Mahopac. 

“Dan helped forge friendships that are still going strong today. I was lucky enough to spend many days and nights at Siena with Cally and the laughs and memories are too many to count. His sense of humor was legendary. I think a measure of one’s life is the positive impact you have on others. Dan chose a path through education and coaching that impacted thousands of kids. His legacy will live on for years through those he impacted during his life.”

Callahan was a staple in everything he did and his sense of humor, his gift of gab and timely wit will never be forgotten by those he touched.  

“Just last week I went to visit Dan at the hospital and he was really weak, but I told him that we had our Siena fantasy football draft and that myself and Alex Winogradoff drafted a team for Dan, a charter member, with the hope he would get better and could continue in our fantasy league. Dan couldn’t really talk, but when I told him we drafted Montgomery and Fournette as his RBs, he just rolled his eyes at me…classic Cally.”  

The 50-year-old Callahan bled the blue and gold as a Mahopac Sports Association youth coach, but his impact was vast at places like Hendrick Hudson where he cut his teeth as an administrator before changing the culture at Peekskill to this day. Hen Hud A.D. Tommy Baker first met Callahan in the mid ‘90s before he joined the Sailor staff.  

“We were two young educators who were both coaching in Section 1,” Baker said. “As time passed, I was lucky enough to work with him at Hen Hud. He was a great colleague, but more importantly he was a great friend. I will miss our talks about our families, pro sports and high school football, which continued right up to last week. He loved all those things, especially his family. Danny had the ability to unify people and leave a positive mark on all he crossed. I will sorely miss Danny Callahan, everyone will. All our hearts go out to his family.”

If the measure of a man is one who touched your heart, Dan Callahan’s standards shall never fade. Life goes on for many of us, but the Callahan family could use your prayers, so open up your heart to them and share the many wonderful encounters you had with one of the most joyful spirits I’ve ever encountered. #RIPCally #ReunitedWith Sean. 

All are welcome to attend a visitation on Wednesday, Sept. 14 from 3 to 8 p.m. at Joseph J. Smith Funeral Home in Mahopac. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, Sept. 15 at 10 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist church in Mahopac. Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne. 

Ray Gallagher

Ray has 33 years experience covering and photographing local sports in Westchester and Putnam counties, including everything from Little League/Travel Baseball to varsity high school prep sports and collegiate coverage. He has been a sports editor at Examiner Media since its inception in 2007.

Visit Ray’s author bio page for more details. Also read Ray’s archived work here and his Direct Rays column here.