Richard Arthur Callahan, known to all as Dick, was born at home on Hardy Street in South Boston on December 22, 1930, the youngest child of John J. Callahan and Nora (O’Rourke) Callahan and the younger brother of John J. Callahan and Anne M. Callahan, both of whom preceded him in death. Richard lived a long and extraordinary life. He passed peacefully at his home in Hingham on March 9, 2026.

Dick and his siblings grew up in the close knit Irish American community for which South Boston is justly famous. Dick was athletic, hardworking and engaging. A life long, devout Roman Catholic, he was educated at Saint Brigid’s parish school, Boston College High School and Boston College, from which he graduated in 1952.

Hardy Street is central to Dick’s story because it was there that he first met Jean Marie Evans, his future wife, when they were young children. Jean lived in Dorchester but regularly visited relatives on Hardy Street. DIck first asked Jean out when they were teenagers. Jean was working at the library in South Boston. When Dick and his fellow hooligans were ejected from the library for making noise, he ducked behind a pillar so he could ask Jean out. After dating throughout high school and college, they married in 1952. Even after Jean passed, Dick never stopped referring to her as “the only girl I ever dated” and “my beautiful girl.” He survived Jean by two years and sixty-seven days, visiting her photo twice a day in the lobby of Linden Ponds, the residential community where they spent their final years.

Dick spent much of his career in government service, first serving proudly as a U.S. Marine and later in various federal law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration. He later worked all over the world in the private sector combatting the theft of intellectual property.

Dick and Jean had four children: Kathleen; Maureen; John and Nora. Despite the rigors of his career he was the consummate family man, spending all of his free time with Jean and their children. Family outings were a frequent occurrence and were always an adventure given Dick’s energy and wicked sense of humor. This tradition continued after their children were grown and Dick and Jean were blessed with three granddaughters — Alexandra, Caroline and Caitlin. Dick’s devotion to family is reflected in his close bonds with all of his granddaughters.

Dick’s sense of humor was legendary. Many called him the funniest person they had ever met. His humor was always irreverent, never crude and politically incorrect to a fault. He had a real flair for nicknames and no one was spared — from small children to Wall Street lawyers and the diplomatic corps.

Dick’s core traits never changed or faltered over the course of his long life — he was extraordinarily disciplined, steadfast, generous, charming and, of course, hilarious. His devotion to his family, his country and his faith was unrivaled. His unconditional love for Jean, his children and grandchildren taught his descendants what it means to live a good life.

Dick is survived by three of his four children and their spouses: Maureen Callahan VanderMay and her husband Monty K. VanderMay; John J.P. Callahan and his wife Emily Dawson Callahan; and Nora M. Armstrong and her husband Stuart Armstrong; and by his grandchildren: Alexandra Armstrong; Caroline Armstrong and Caitlin C. Callahan. Jean preceded him in death as did his eldest daughter, Kathleen A. Callahan. Dick is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews, extended family and friends. A self described “nice boy from Hardy Street,” Dick will be missed by all who knew him.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to greet the family during the visiting hours on Thursday, March 19, 2026 from 9:00-10:00 AM in the Keohane Funeral Home, 785 Hancock St., QUINCY. A Celebration of Life Service will be held in the funeral home at 10 AM on Thursday, prior to the Funeral Mass in St. Brigid's Church, 845 East Broadway in South Boston, at 11 AM. Burial will be in New Calvary Cemetery at a later date.