Kevin F. Callahan, a graduate of Dorchester (Samoset Street, adjacent to the St. Mark’s parish grounds) who settled with his family in Hanson, died on Monday at home after a seven-year confrontation with leukemia and its relentless effects. He was 68.

Mr. Callahan was the son of the late Joseph and Eleanor Callahan, whose four active and sociable boys were familiar presences on neighborhood streets, in city classrooms, and later, on campuses, in business settings, and at off-work establishments.

Mr. Callahan, who took a diploma from the old Boston Tech to Stonehill, where he earned his degree while playing as a point guard on the basketball team, served for nearly 40 years at the Boston Municipal Court for Civil Business where, in his longtime role as an assistant clerk-magistrate, he brought an in-born empathy to a place where the street meets justice at the elemental level.

A runner of uncommon dedication (six Boston Marathons) who thought nothing of getting in ten miles at lunchtime, Mr. Callahan faced down his cancer with Janice, his wife of 42 years, by his side with a consuming dedication through countless emergencies and right to the time of his passing on Monday.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Callahan leaves four daughters, the pride of his legacy: Shannon Callahan and her husband, Josh Randolph, of San Antonio, Texas; Meaghan Zadrozny and her husband John of East Bridgewater; Kaitlin Taber and her husband Sam of Newton; and Brenna Callahan of Hanson. He also leaves his brother Jack and his wife Becky, of Mesa, Ariz.; and sisters-in-law Gail Callahan of Canton and Mary Callahan of Redondo Beach, Calif. He was pre-deceased by his brothers Peter and Philip.

Mr. Callahan was the beloved Papa to Joey, Charlie, Sam and Teddy Zadrozny, and Elise Randolph. He also leaves many nieces and nephews.
Visiting hours are on Friday. Dec. 5, from 5-8 p.m. in the Magoun-Biggins Funeral Home, 135 Union St., Rockland. A funeral Mass will be said the following morning at 11 o’clock in St. Joseph the Worker Church, Hanson.

Donations in Mr. Callahan’s memory may be made to Caring for a Cure, Massachusetts General Hospital Development Office, 100 Cambridge Street, Suite 1310, Boston, MA 02114.

– TOM MULVOY