|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
January 4, 1922 – February 2, 2023
Robert Patrick "Bob" Callaghan (Jan. 4, 1922-Feb. 2, 2023) 101 years of age.
Resided recently in Alamo, CA, after over 60 years in Atherton.
Bob passed away peacefully with family surrounding him on Thursday Feb. 2, 2023. He had moved recently to the East Bay to be close to a daughter, after 60+ years in Atherton. Bob was born in Aberdeen, South Dakota to Arthur P. and Jeanette Daly Callaghan. He grew up on a farm outside of Westport, South Dakota. Bob quickly surpassed what could be learned in the one-room schoolhouse near where he grew up during the depression. He had an interesting, cross-country path to becoming a commercial airline pilot, eventually landing on the west coast with United Airlines. He met a lovely flight radio operator working out of Burbank, California and swept her off her feet some 76 years ago. They lived in various places in the Bay Area, mainly in two different homes he personally designed and built for his growing family. Bob and his wife loved to travel and managed to see all the continents, while also insisting that the US was important to explore through road trips as well.
Bob was mainly self-educated, an incredible student of anything mechanical, aeronautical, or geological.. He was a commercial airline pilot, hobby sailplane pilot, flight instructor for the military during WWII, builder of homes and warehouses, inventor, furniture maker, all-around handyman, prize-winning photographer, world explorer, early adaptor of computers, and lifelong learner. His curiosity even led him to sign himself and wife "Burkie" up for free MRI's when Stanford Hospital purchased its first machine and wanted volunteers to try it out.
Bob passed away only hours after his loving wife, Doris "Burkie" Callaghan.. Since they had traveled extensively together over the years it was not a surprise to family that he followed Burkie so closely on this final journey. They leave behind four children: Sandra (Peter) Burr, Sheila (Mike) Goodwin, Patrick Callaghan, and Shawn (Fred) Richardson; 6 grandchildren Kelly (Alex) Adduci, Katie Goodwin, Shaun (Stephanie) Goodwin, Kristi (Jeff) Welsh, Travis (Christie) Callaghan, Jackson Callaghan; and 5 great-grandchildren: Siena, Jake and Max Adduci, Jack and Ryan Welsh. In addition to his wife, Bob was predeceased by his brother Arthur Callaghan, sisters Marjorie Tavenner and Dorothy Sudmeier, infant daughters Katie and Maureen, and grandson Ken Tilden.
His family especially appreciates the care in his last months from Hope Hospice of Dublin. Memorial gifts can be sent to: or mailed to: 6377 Clark Avenue, Suite 100, Dublin CA 94568.
A private family celebration of life will occur later this spring/summer.
