Francis X. Callahan

Francis (Frankie) X. Callahan Passed away peacefully in Chico on July 14, 2015. Francis, born in Manhattan, was the son of a single mother who was a desk clerk at the Hotel San Moritz (Central Park South). Because of the times and her situation, Frank and his brother attended eleven grammar schools. Most of his growing up was in Hell's Kitchen, at the time, the most dangerous neighborhood in New York City (where his younger brother was murdered). After high school, Frank enlisted Jan. 1951 in the USAF and was selected out of several hundred candidates to study Mandarin Chinese at the Yale University Institute of Far Eastern Languages. Out of sixty students, twenty two survived the 30-week course. At 19, he was a Chinese interrogator, first with the 1st Marines on the West Coast of Korea then in the Iron Triangle with the Tenth Corps. Frank also completed paratroop training at Ft. Benning, Ga. and subsequently made 21 jumps and an emergency bail-out. He worked as a longshoreman for several years and as a teamster. Both of his unions had the distinction of being expelled from the AFL-CIO for gangster affiliations. Graduating from Columbia University with a BS in Chinese History and Literature, the third undergraduate to do so since the school's founding, he rose rapidly in the advertising business, tired of it after ten years and earned a PhD in economics from the New School for Social Research. In 1972, he was the Republican candidate for the US Congress (2nd CD, California). In academia, he has lectured in Europe, Asia (Singapore, Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur) and Australia (Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney). He retired from full time lecturing as a Senior Fellow at the National University of Singapore and was Professor Emeritus (1983) from California State University, Chico. Frank was a voracious reader, a writer, a painter, a farmer (olives and grapes), a bridge player and a sportsman. Apart from sailing, he was a competitive basketball and handball player. He was a great storyteller; be it politics, growing up in New York City or sports (particularly basketball and tennis as he was very knowledgeable of any players). Frank was his own man with strong and noble convictions. He was witty, kind, loyal and generous. The loss of him will be deeply felt by all who knew and loved him. He is survived by his wife, Siew Hoong Chan and the extended Chan family (Singapore) which includes his mother-in-law, aunts, sister-in-laws and brother-in-laws, 13 nieces/nephews as well as a grandniece and a grandnephew. He is dearly missed. A memorial service will be held on August 19, 2015, 2.30 - 4.00 p.m. at the Chico Women's Club, 592 E. 3rd Str., Chico, CA. In lieu of flowers, donations in Frank's memory may be made to Smile Train, P.O. Box 96210, Washington, DC 20090-6210