David Brady Callan October 6, 1940 - July 14, 2024

David Brady Callan died at 83 on July 14, 2024, after a two-year battle with colorectal cancer.  He was the soul of kindness and a man of great spiritual depth.  His wife Lin was at his side at Hospice of Cincinnati, where he’d been taken only a few hours before.

Dave was born on October 6, 1940, in Irondequoit, NY, the fourth of eight children of Phillip J. and Lucile Brady Callan.  He was preceded in death by his parents, and by brothers Phil and Brady and brother-in-law Leo Aman.  He is survived by his wife Linda Rachel Finke and son Timothy (Jasmine Probst) of San Francisco and daughter Chrissy (Matt Mandarino) of Pasadena, CA, and his grandchildren Eve, Aero, and Francesca.  Also surviving are his sister Marian Aman and brothers Edward, Daniel, James, and Jerry (Ruth), as well as sisters in law Eileen Callan and Tessie Callan, and his life-long friend Father James Boyle.

Dave ministered as a Catholic priest for 12 years in the Diocese of Rochester, NY, serving congregations at St. Ambrose Church in Rochester, St. Patrick’s Church in Seneca Falls, the Cornell University Catholic Community in Ithaca, and St. Patrick’s Church in Elmira.  In 1978 he moved to Cincinnati, OH and married Linda.  He served as a social worker for two years with Dominican Community Services while earning an MSW from the University of Kentucky, and then began a 25-year career with Cancer Family Care.  He distinguished himself as a practitioner and leader in the field of oncology social work, serving as Executive Director from 1998-2006, and was awarded the Joslin Haggart Yeiser Unsung Hero Award by Cancer Family Care upon retirement.  In his retired years, Dave enjoyed volunteer work as an English tutor for new immigrants, and turned out many oil and acrylic paintings which he gave to family and friends.  He was particularly engaged in spiritual reading and conversations with dear friends Paul Knitter and Walter Hanss and enjoyed ongoing conversations with former Cancer Family Care colleagues as they visited.

The family is grateful for the excellent support and service provided by the personnel at Hospice of Cincinnati, and especially by his nurse Marcy, in his final year.

A private natural burial at Heritage Acres Memorial Sanctuary will take place on July 26. Celebration of a Memorial Mass will take place on July 27 at 2 PM at Bellarmine Chapel on Xavier University’s campus, with visitation at the Chapel preceding at 1.  The service will be livestreamed at https://youtube.com/live/yzOVlCfLNu4?feature=share.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to Cancer Family Care, 4790 Red Bank Expressway Ste. 128, Cincinnati, OH 45227 or a charity of one’s choice.