Eugenia Riordan Callan

11-12-1928 – 3-29-2021

Genie Callan died in the peace and comfort of her Sonoma home on March 29, 2021. She was 92. Genie was a proud third generation San Franciscan. She cast a wide net with her quirky sense of humor and gregarious nature, garnering many enduring friendships in the City, and was active in the Junior League, the Next-To-New Shop, the Fine Arts Museum Auxiliary and, perhaps her favorite organization, the Children’s Theater Association. When her volunteer and charity work abated, Genie turned much of her attention to painting. She honed her craft and became an accomplished artist. Eugenia Marie Riordan was born in Children’s Hospital, San Francisco, the only child of Eugene J. Riordan and Mabel E. Riordan neé Connelly. She adored her father, a City engineer who later became the Director of Property for the City and County of San Francisco. She accompanied him on fly-fishing excursions to the Lost Coast and on camping trips in Yosemite. Genie attended the Katherine Delmar Burke School graduating in 1946, remembering “Miss Barbara” fondly over the years. She then matriculated at U.C. Berkeley, graduating in 1950 after four years of Rally Committee and a BA in Art and English Literature. Her Shakespeare anthology is still used at family gatherings to read some of her favorite marked passages. She was a member of the Chi Omega Sorority, and belonged to various honor societies, including the Mortar Board, the Prytanean Honor Society and Torch and Shield.

She met the one and only love of her life, John C. Callan, at a Cal wedding in 1951, and the two were married in 1953. They lived in a small $25/month apartment at Union and Baker before moving to Lake Street, then West Clay Park in 1963 with their three children Leslie, Clint and Tony, and one of a succession of black Labrador Retrievers. John started his real estate firm of Callan, Stroud & Dale at this time, and continued to work there until his death in 2005. Once Genie’s family was settled, she was able to devote more time to two of her favorite crafts: painting and acting. She held numerous shows featuring oil paintings of whimsical settings, populated with animals and flowers, and always displaying her vivid imagination. Her first studio was off the master bedroom; John often complained that she was responsible for the cadmium yellow spots on his ties. As for performing, her favorite role was the Wicked Witch of the West in the Wizard of Oz. She perfected the cackle, much to the delight of her grandchildren years later.

One of the original coldwater swimming enthusiasts, born from childhood days plying the waters at Ocean Beach and Crissy Field, Genie transported this activity to Sonoma after she and John bought their weekend retreat there in the 1980s. She swam in a deep, unheated pool, and was able to paint in a proper studio. The property reflected her sensibilities: open, tranquil spaces, wild iris and daffodils, and unusual Irish carvings. She remained active in the Francisca Club, the Metropolitan Club, the California Tennis Club, and many other San Francisco institutions, including the San Francisco Opera where she was a regular on Tuesday nights for many years. She and John traveled to their favorite places whenever they could, among them: Ireland, France and Hana, Maui.

Genie is survived by her two children, Leslie M. Callan and John C. (Clint) Callan, Jr. (Pen); and three grandchildren: Will, Jennie, and Peter. Her husband John, and son Tony predeceased her.

Services are private. Donations can be made to St. Dominic’s Church or St. Anthony’s Dining Room.