James Joseph Callanan, age 81, passed away on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, at the Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. Born in Newton on July 29, 1940, he was the son of the late James J. and Ann P. (Culkin) Callanan. He was raised in Brighton's Oak Square and graduated from Mission High School in Roxbury with the Class of 1958. Following his graduation, Jim began his career in the printing field, taking a position with the Harwich Lithograph in Hyde Park.
Jim married his beloved wife, Carol M. Ryan, on December 11, 1971, at Saint Ann's Church in Wollaston. Together, they made their home for a brief time in Carver, Massachusetts, before moving to Brockton, where they welcomed their son, Christopher, and eventually settling in Walpole, Massachusetts in 1978.
In the early 1980s, Jim used his printing skill set to venture out on his own, founding Printer's Ink on West Street in Boston, moving the operation to Temple Place a few years later. After many years of commuting to Boston, a space in a building on Stone Street in Walpole was made available to Jim, and he moved his entire operation out of the city, making the easy drive from his home to his new shop every day. Jim eventually took his shop to his garage at home and later returned to a space in Walpole center, operating Printer's Ink until his retirement in 2010.
When he wasn't hard at work in his shop, Jim could be found maintaining his yard, spending countless hours outside to ensure his lawn, plants, and surroundings were just perfect. After the chores were done, Jim took to the streets with his beloved Huskies, walking around the neighborhood and talking to everyone he met along the way. In 1997, Jim and Carol purchased a vacation home in East Falmouth, where they could escape to enjoy the Cape life. Once they settled on the Cape full-time in 2018, Jim could be found walking his dog around his new neighborhood and making plenty of new friends along the way. He could also be found cruising the streets of Sea Coast Shores in his golf cart, giving his granddaughter, Julie, her first driving lessons.
Beloved husband of Carol M. (Ryan) Callanan.
Loving father of Christopher J. Callanan and his wife, Tricia, of Newton.
Cherished grandfather of Julie M. Callanan.
Brother of Audrey Carmel and Jane Lawless both of Maine.
Also survived by several nieces and nephews.
At the request of Jim's family, all services will be held privately, with interment taking place in Terrace Hill Cemetery in Walpole.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the MSPCA, 350 South Huntington Avenue, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 or at https://www.mspca.org
Arrangements by James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home, Walpole.
Visits: 32
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors