Eamon (Edward) Callan:EAMON CALLAN, the youngest of seven children, was born in Co Mayo to Owen and Ellen (O'Connor) Callan. He attended schools in Ireland and England, moving in 1937 to teach and further his studies in South Africa. He received degrees from UCD, the University of Witwatersrand and Teaching College in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Fordham University (NYC).
Awarded a doctorate from the University of South Africa, he subsequently did post doctoral study at Oxford University.
In 1942 he enlisted in the South African army, serving in north Africa and Italy as a forward observer with the 6th SA Armoured Division and the British 8th army. He had many interesting stories from that period, including being part of the drive to liberate Rome. While moving in a convoy at night with poor visibility, it appeared no one knew with any certainty precisely which road they were on. Travelling at the front in a motorbike sidecar and noticing in the dim light a type of herringbone pattern on the cobbled road beneath him, he recognised this pattern as similar to a picture of the Apian Way, which his mother had shown him as a child. This information was quickly relayed to his commander. At least now they knew where they were!
Shortly after, he was aboard the first tank to cross the Tiber and enter Rome on June 6th, 1944. While the delighted inhabitants were lining the streets and handing out flowers, a bystander told him that the D-Day landings had just been announced.
In 1950 he returned to England to join the National Panel of Speakers of the British Ministry of Information and in 1952 emigrated to the US, teaching at the universities of Fordham and Loyola. In 1957 he settled in Kalamazoo, teaching English in Western Michigan University until 1983 when he retired. During this time he was appointed Distinguished Faculty Professor (their highest faculty honour) and was also named Distinguished Faculty Scholar (highest scholarly award).
Included in his writings are full-length books on WH Auden, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Albert Luthuli and his good friend Alan Paton, the South African writer and humanitarian. Callan wrote the introduction to the 1986 edition of Paton's Cry, the Beloved Country, published by Macmillan.
He had an active retirement, compiling two one-man shows based on Irish literary figures. I am of Ireland, depicting the life of WB Yeats through his poetry and words, was premiered in 1988 in the Abbey's Peacock Theatre by Bosco Hogan, with music composed and performed by Gráinne Yeats. This show later played in Belfast and Rome. His Molly's Only Playboywas based on the life of JM Synge and was premiered in Kalamazoo in 2002.
Eamon Callan was a quiet man with a wonderful sense of humour and a great zest for life, language and learning. He liked travel, a good wine and above all, loved being with his family. Married for 56 years, he is survived by his wife Claire, son Joe, daughter and son-in-law Ruth and Thad, grandchildren Cody and Dylan as well as several nieces and nephews in Ireland and England.
"Earth, receive an honoured guest: Eamon Callan is laid to rest". (After WH Auden, In Memory of William Yeats).
Eamon (Edward) Callan: born, December 3rd, 1917; died November 17th, 2011.