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Foothills Sentry


as a registered investment advi- sor.


Tuesday, September 9, 2014 Richard Callahan 1937 - 2014


Richard leaves his wife Joanne, children Michael, Brian, Lynn, Maureen and Lydia, and five grandchildren. He also leaves the Foothills Sentry staff, who thank him for all he did to keep the newspaper viable following the death of its founder Anita Ben- nyhoff. A private wake was held at the family home on Aug. 17.


“In all the 34 years of our mar-


riage I never heard a negative word from Richard expressed toward anyone. He always used positive reinforcement to en- courage growth in everyone he knew.”


Joanne Callahan (wife) “Richard Callahan is a man Richard Callahan, beloved


father, husband, colleague and friend passed away Aug. 7, suc- cumbing to a multi-year battle with cancer. Richard, who ac- cepted the mantle of Foothills Sentry publisher in 2013, fought the disease with every ounce of his being, attending city council meetings, writing his commen- tary column and dealing with the newspaper’s business side until the very end. “I have cancer,” he’d say, “it doesn’t have me.” During his short tenure as Sen-


try publisher, Richard earned the respect and admiration of com- munity leaders in Orange, Orange Park Acres and North Tustin. He could be adversarial when exam- ining the financial outlook for


Orange or questioning the OUSD board’s missteps, but it was never personal. Everyone called him “friend.” Richard was devoted to Joanne,


his wife of 34 years, and their five children. His face lit up when he spoke of Joanne’s talent for pot- tery and the individual successes of his three boys and two girls. Born in Pasadena, Richard


moved around California for school and work before settling in Orange 15 years ago. He gradu- ated from Santa Clara University with a B.S. in accounting (minor- ing in ethics). He served as a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. His career path led him to Sears, as a vice president; Coldwell Banker, as comptroller; and to Ameriprise,


defined by his devotion, com- mitment, passion, conviction, goodwill and fervent love for his family. His fortitude and inner strength persevered over a life- time of personal and professional challenges. He fought incessant- ly in his battle against cancer and embodied what poet Dylan Thom- as penned, ‘Do not go gentle into that good night.’”


Michael Callahan (son) “My father taught me to believe


in myself, to persevere, to focus on what is important, to spend time with those who matter and to ignore all the extraneous stuff. I am so very honored and grateful to have had Richard Callahan as my father. On Aug. 7, the world lost a wonderful, significant per- son. He is now at peace. I love you, Dad!” Maureen George (daughter)


I’ll truly miss Richard. We didn’t always agree, but our exchanges were always respectful and beneficial to our com- munity. His battle with this disease was truly inspiring. We would meet and later I would find out he had a chemo treat- ment the day before. He covered an Orange City Council meeting the same evening after treatment. I’ll always admire his courage and integrity.


Tim Surridge


I got to know Richard over the past couple of years, and grew to admire and respect him. He came to the flag cer- emony at the plaza almost every Wednesday evening, even during his chemo treatment. We did not talk about death as he told me that he had beaten this cancer before and he was determined to do it again. We took a huge photo of our group a few months ago, and Richard is right there almost in the center of the picture; his big smile is what grabs you. Mark Wayland


Orange Park Acres extends our deepest sympathy to Rich- ard’s wife, family and extended Foothills Sentry family. Rich- ard made a huge impact on the OPA community in a short few years. First, as a 2012 Orange City Council candidate, then writing for the Foothills Sentry. He gallantly took the baton with the passing of Anita Bennyhoff, dedicating him- self to the perpetuation of The Sentry. The Foothills Sentry continues .. thank you Richard.


Orange Park Association


We were so sorry to read about the death of Richard Cal- lahan. We appreciate that your paper gave us the informa- tion about OUSD negotiations for high-density apartments on the Peralta property. Your paper brought the community together to stop it. We appreciated Richard’s support and hard work on that issue. Our sympathy goes out to you and all that work for the paper. We hope you will be able to carry on and continue to bring local news stories to our neighbors and us. RIP Richard.


Margy and Jerry Costello Guest Commentary Local control may stave off future fights to preserve East Orange


By Peter Jacklin Early this summer, the Orange


City Council struggled to find some virtue in a Rio Santiago project that was flawed in vision, design, management, promotion and benefit. Yet, this city council made every attempt to find some way to make the developer whole. This time there was no unrecord- ed council decision, no rabbit out of the hat. The council members had to vote “yes” or “no” on a de- cision that would forever change Orange Park Acres and East Or- ange. I pondered the question “Why?” for some time. I came to realize that the correct question is “How many more times will my community have to rise up to pro- tect itself from the Orange City Council?” It’s a certainty that the speculator, or someone like him, will be back. With a couple of exceptions,


the candidates running for city council, if elected, will revert the council’s biases back to the be- liefs that approved the Ridgeline project. It’s likely that a Rio San- tiago project that minimizes only a small failing of the current plan will be passed. Here’s a hint of things to come.


The current council recently ap- proved two large high-rise apart- ment developments on the west side of the city because housing = sales taxes + property taxes. It’s clear that future city councils will have a significant development


bias. And, where is the available land to develop? Prepare for more and tougher fights, citizens of Or- ange Park Acres. This type of warfare has been


going on for my 40 years in the community. In the past, the battle has been fought over the land and how it is to be re-valued. The cur-


rent fight and future fights are for the community’s independence, its lifestyle, its pursuit of happi- ness and its existence. There will always be an Orange


City Council. Future councils will be disposed to vote in favor of speculator incursions into the community. The last council and


its city attorney had a clear bias against the community’s lifestyle, and were not shy about exposing it. The future holds more of the same. It’s time to place decision- making about Orange Park Acres’ future in the hands and minds of its citizens. Laguna Woods did it,


Aliso Viejo did it, Rancho Santa Margarita did it and La Habra Heights did it. It’s time for Or- ange Park Acres to do it. Incorporate Orange Park Acres.


Make it a city unto itself. It’s the safest and surest way to protect a community and lifestyle that is worth preserving for eternity.


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