John Callagy, 77, Led One of Oldest NYC Law Firms, Active Volunteer, Knight of Malta, Triathlete

John M. Callagy died on April 28 of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). He was 77. He had been a member of the Darien Board of Finance.

John Callagy, 77, died April 28.

John, the son of Judge Martin V. Callagy and Elizabeth Sherwood Callagy, was born May possibly 22, 1944. Raised in New York City, John attended Saint Ignatius Loyola parochial university and Loyola College.

He graduated from Georgetown University in 1966 and NYU Regulation College in 1969, where by he was a Root Tilden Scholar. He began his regulation career at Townley Updike Carter & Rodgers, then spent 46 several years at Kelley Drye & Warren LLP, a single of the oldest corporations in New York Town. He was a member of the firm’s government committee and turned its initially chairman in 1992. John led Kelley Drye as its chair for just about two decades.

John steadily guided the organization through a lot of worries, which include the world-wide fiscal crisis and the aftermath of September 11th. He led the firm’s ahead development with enthusiasm and determination, and served as an advisor and mentor to innumerable colleagues and young lawyers who admired his acute notice to detail although preserving big photo targets and executing persuasive, novel and profitable strategies for his clientele.

John leaves powering a professional legacy of a flourishing business and a great number of lawyers who benefited from his assistance and instance. As a corporate litigator, John represented a numerous customer foundation through the U.S., Europe and Asia.

In addition to his do the job for corporate consumers, John dedicated a fantastic deal of time giving professional-bono legal support to men and women and not-for-profit businesses, like Martha’s Winery Fishermen’s Preservation Have confidence in, Brooklyn Authorized Companies Corporation A, and Lambda Authorized.

As a devout Catholic, John confirmed his really like for the Church by means of his lots of charitable functions. As a Trustee of the Internal-Town Scholarship Fund for 15 a long time, he served on the Government Committee and chaired the Enhancement and Nominating Committees. He also served as co-chair of the Legal professionals Committee and was instrumental in elevating scholarship guidance for Internal-Metropolis students. John received the prestigious Saint Thomas A lot more award from the Archdiocese of New York and was named a Knight of Malta.

For many many years John served on the Board of Regents for his alma mater, Georgetown University. He also served as a member of the Board of the Convent of the Sacred Heart College in Greenwich, and not long ago became included with the Jesuit Refugee Services, continuing his lifestyle-long commitment to helping these in want.

John was a member of the University Club in New York Metropolis for 50 yrs, Wee Burn up Place Club in Darien, and Vineyard Golf Club in Edgartown, Massachusetts, the place he put in quite a few hrs practicing his golf swing.

In his 50s John emerged as a wellbeing and health and fitness devotee, and he competed in his first triathlon just just after his 50th birthday. Until finally his ALS analysis in July 2021, John put in his free of charge time traveling, swimming, cycling, crafting, looking through, and cruising on his boat in Chilmark, Massachusetts.

He was the beloved spouse of Mollie (McNeil) for 52 a long time and father of Morgan (Saveria) of West Palm Beach front, Florida, Meegan Colgan (Joe) of Larchmont, New York, Catherine Callagy (RJ Luth, Jr.) of Darien and Claire Callagy (Dan Broderick) of Chilmark, Massachusetts. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Christina, Isabella, and Marina Callagy, Mason and Lila Colgan, Mollie and Jack Luth, his sister Regina Burke, sister-in-law Lynn Callagy, and lots of nieces and nephews.

A Mass celebrating John’s existence was held Friday, May 6, at St. Thomas Far more Church in Darien. Donations in John’s memory might be sent to Compassionate Treatment ALS at  or the Interior-Metropolis Scholarship Fund.

— an obituary from Lawrence Funeral Residence, the place online condolences could be left