Frederick Callahan III
South Lyme— Frederick H. Callahan III, 77, of Newington and South Lyme, died peacefully Sunday, March 10, 2024. A beloved couple for 31 years, Fred and Christine Cleveland loved being together in Connecticut, as well as spending time at their home in Delray Beach, Fla. Born in Hartford, son of the late Frederick Callahan Jr. and Loretta (Woods) Callahan, he resided in Newington for over 75 years and in Old Lyme for more than 50 years.
Fred graduated from Robinson Prep School and the Connecticut Municipal Police Academy and was a U.S. Army veteran. He owned and operated several bowling centers with his family and currently co-owned Callahan’s Bowl-ORama. He was a Newington Police Officer for 24 years and was a member of the Newington Volunteer Fire Department. Fred was a Newington Town Constable, a member of the Town of Newington Board of Assessors, and was a member of St. Mary’s Church. He was a member of the Point O’ Woods Homeowners Association Board of Governors for 18 years and was a member of the Board of Governors for the Federation of Old Lyme Beaches. He served as president of the Berlin Turnpike Businessman’s Association and was a member of the Board of Directors for the Interstate Police Association, the Connecticut Bowling Proprietors Association and the Elks of Westbrook.
Along with Christine, he leaves his daughter Amber Dodge and husband Keith and children Emma, Charlotte and Michaela Doehr; as well as Christine’s family, sons Scott Cleveland and Amy Parsons and children, Marisa and Thomas Cleveland, and Adam Cleveland and wife Jenn and children, Chloe and Aleck Cleveland. He was predeceased by his brother Francis “Rip” Callahan.
His funeral service will begin at 8:45 a.m. Monday, March 18, 2024, at Duksa Family Funeral Homes at Newington Memorial, 20 Bonair Ave., Newington, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church, Newington. He will be laid to rest with military honors in West Meadow Cemetery, Newington. Relatives and friends are invited to call from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 17, 2024, at Newington Memorial. Memorial donations may be made to the Detective Lt. Fred Callahan, Jr. Scholarship Fund, c/o Liberty Bank, 1300 Main St., Newington, CT 06111. To share a memory, please visit us at www.duksa.net.