Thomas C. O'Callaghan

Thomas C. O’Callaghan was born on October 26, 1927, in Alpena, Michigan. He recently celebrated his 97th  birthday at home with close family members. He died peacefully at home on November 2nd. He lost his lifelong love, Sharon (Shannahan), in September of 2022 after 71 years of marriage. His passing was preceded by his sisters Mary Freer (Ed) and Alice MacMaster (John) as well as his brother Jack O’Callaghan (Joan). He is survived by 5 children, Tim (Kathy), Mike, Teri (Tracy), Patty and Shawn (Kathy). He is also survived by 17 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren and 6 great-great grandchildren. 

Tom was a very talented baseball pitcher when he was a young man. This led him to travel down to Briggs Stadium with Willard LeClair to try out for the Detroit Tigers. In 1946, at the age of 18, Tom was offered a contract by the Tigers to join their farm team. At this time, the elder statesman of Harrisville, Kiki Cuyler, who was coaching for Boston at the time, heard about his offer. He contacted Tom and convinced him to sign with Boston instead of Detroit so Kiki could “keep an eye on him.” And that’s exactly what happened. Tom traveled down to Florida and started pitching for the Boston farm team and by the age of 19, he was the starting pitcher in their All-Star game. Unfortunately, his professional baseball career was interrupted by the Korean war and Tom was drafted. Before his deployment, he quickly arranged for Sharon to join him in Washington so they could get married on January 6, 1951. After 3 years of service in Korea, he rejoined his team in Florida where he injured his arm and that marked the end of his professional baseball career. Having 2 sons by this time, he decided to go back into the Army where he completed a 20-year career including 2 deployments to Viet Nam. In 1973, Tom retired from the military and moved his family back to his childhood home in Harrisville. Tom and Sharon were lifelong members of St. Anne’s Catholic Church where Tom spent countless hours maintaining the grounds at the church and cemetery.  

Tom was an avid rabbit hunter for many years, and he loved his beagles. However, he was best known throughout the county for his involvement in the baseball and softball leagues including many years coaching at Alcona High School. He leaves behind a legacy of men and women ball players who will forever remember him fondly. During his coaching years, he taught many young pitchers his craft but truly his weapon of choice was a fungo bat which he wielded effectively as he trained many infielders to “stay down on the ball” and outfielders to judge towering fly balls. During the late 1970’s, he took an eclectic array of young men, known as the Harrisville Chiefs, and turned them into a formidable baseball team that enjoyed many successes. He was heard on more than one occasion stating that nearly every player on the team needed a haircut!

 A memorial service will be held for both Tom and Sharon at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Harrisville at 11:00 AM on Saturday, December 14, 2024.