Saying Good Bye is Never Easy, Chief Callahan

Chief Callahan's Memorial Service, San Luis Obispo CA.

Remembering Chief John Callahan. Veteran Fire Chief John Callahan died suddenly in San Luis Obispo August 18, 2010 while playing in a City softball game at Santa Rosa Park in the City of San Luis Obispo. Citizens performed CPR prior to paramedics arrival but efforts proved to be futile. Chief Callahan was pronounced dead at Sierra Vista Hospital a short time later after resuscitation efforts were unable to revive the Chief.

Chief Callahan was a retired Deputy Chief from the Los Angeles City Fire Department with 32 years of service and also served as Fire Chief in San Luis Obispo for the past five years. Chief Callahan was planning to retire in November of this year to spend more time with his wife Lynne.

Chief Callahan was active with the local YMCA, Rotary Club and as a Director for San Luis Obispo Telosa. At his service he was eulogized as having a dry Irish wit and as man who dedicated his life serving others.

Grand Ave in Cal Poly was lined with fire apparatus as the horse drawn procession brought the Chief into the Performing Arts Center for his final salute for a job well done. Honor guards from both Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo Local 3523 lifted the Chief from a 1906 horse drawn chemical wagon into the pavilion as uniformed personnel and bystanders saluted the Chief.

Family, friends, co-workers and firefighters from the region said their final tear filled fairwells to the Chief on Friday morning August 27, 2010.

Photos Jeff Zimmerman, Zimmerman Media LLC