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Rory Callahan
Rory Callahan a resident of Claverack, New York, died at Columbia Memorial Hospital, Hudson, after a brief illness on February 18. He was 75.
He was born in Suffern, New York, and raised in Brooklyn and Amagansett. After building a home on the dunes in Amagansett, the family has maintained a long connection with Eastern Long Island. His brother Michael Callahan has a home in Sag Harbor, and his brothers Gill, Brian and Kevin went to school in Southampton and Amagansett.
As a child, he moved with his family for a few years to Karachi, Pakistan, where his father, John Callahan, was a foreign correspondent for The New York Times.
He graduated from Fordham University with a degree in Philosophy and later studied Enology and Viticulture at the University of California, Davis.
He worked for many decades in the wine industry. His marketing company represented wine regions from around the world, including New York, California, Spain, New Zealand, and South Africa, and he enjoyed traveling to these regions frequently.
He loved the Hudson Valley, where he moved after retirement, living in Germantown, Rhinebeck, and Claverack.
He was an avid lifelong learner, with a particular interest in local history, and a collector of books on his wide interests.
Rory was deeply loved by his family and many friends for his kindness, loyalty, generosity, and intelligence. He was a true supporter of all who knew him and with them, his memory lives on.
He is survived by his wife and best friend, Carole Cleaver; his daughter Meagan Callahan; and his siblings Michael Callahan and Lynn Callahan. He was predeceased by his brothers Gill, Brian and Kevin.
Staff Writer on Mar 13, 2025