Edward T. Callaghan Of Southampton Dies April 25

Noted arts and entertainment publicist Edward Terrance Callaghan of Manhattan and Southampton died at home of complications from cancer on April 25. He was 66. Ed Callaghan, as he was generally known to press, clients and colleagues, had been a virtual fixture on the New York arts and entertainment scene—with a heavy emphasis on music and theater—since the late 1970s. He began as publicity and marketing director of the now-defunct Entermedia Theater and continued to the present: first with his company Burnham-Callaghan Associates throughout the 1980s, in partnership with Jacqueline Burnham-Kurta; then several solo enterprises; and, for the past 15 years, with his life and business partner, John Wegorzewski, in Alchimia Public Relations & Marketing. It was primarily through this final entity that Mr. Callaghan also ventured into the areas of hospitality, fashion, fine art, and high-end luxury items.

Throughout his career, Mr. Callaghan personified the ultimate in show-biz style and substance, survivors said. His reputation for providing excellent, detailed materials to press and media, and savvy positioning and direction to clients, was legendary, they said. He represented hundreds of celebrities over the years, including Patti LaBelle, Rosie O’Donnell and Loretta Devine. But he was best known for his impact on the New York club scene in the disco-driven 1980s, representing The Limelight, The China Club, The Tunnel, and The Red Parrot, as well as the comedy club Catch A Rising Star.

In addition, Mr. Callaghan’s expertise launched the Kaufman-Astoria Studios (one of the first to reinvigorate film and TV production in New York); created special event opportunities for Harry Winston Jewelers—particularly the company’s “dressing” of Academy Award contenders and presenters for several years; and brought (and kept) hundreds of Broadway, Off-Broadway, regional, national and touring theatrical productions on the boards. He most recently worked with numerous renowned fine artists, art galleries and art festivals.

Mr. Callaghan was born November 30, 1948, and raised in the Bronx, later moved to New Jersey, then returned to Manhattan. He attended All Hallows in the Bronx for 12 years and completed his formal education with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Iona College in New Rochelle. His first career was in education. For several years in the early 1970s, he taught at Our Lady of Victory, a kindergarten through eighth grade Catholic elementary school in the South Bronx, serving as a teacher-of-all-subjects to seventh and eighth graders. He later was the co-founder of The CORE Community School (with the inimitable civil rights head of the Congress of Racial Equality, Roy Innis). The teacher-turned-promoter often said that teaching taught him how to communicate with “uninterested audiences” and motivate them to investigate, then embrace, information and ideas they hadn’t previously considered. While this lesson helpfully informed his later PR work, Mr. Callaghan’s impact on his students was profound and lasting, survivors said. Just last summer, a group of his “kids” (most now in their 50s) organized a barbecue party in honor of their mentor.

Mr. Callaghan was predeceased by his parents, John and Theresa Callaghan; and a younger brother, Gene. He is survived by a brother, John Callaghan and wife Mary Ann; a sister, Terry Lamberski and husband John; a sister-in-law, Rose Callaghan; many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews; as well as by Mr. Wegorzewski and countless friends and colleagues.

A funeral was held on April 30 at the Church of Our Savior in Manhattan.