- Date Of Birth: January 11, 1945
- Date Of Death: December 11, 2021
- State: Connecticut
Barbara “Bobbie”Callahan, educator and champion for children and families, dies at 76
Barbara “Bobbie” Callahan of Fairfield, CT passed away on Dec. 11th after a long and hard-fought four year battle with endometrial cancer. Bobbie is survived by her partner and husband of over 30 years, Ed Hayes, along with her three children, two stepchildren, their spouses, and her nine grandchildren.
Born in 1945 in Ann Arbor, MI, Bobbie was raised in Darien, CT by Barbara and Guy Conrath.
After graduating from Sarah Lawrence College with a degree in visual art and art history, Bobbie began her career illustrating and publishing children’s books in New York City. In the late 60s, she had the opportunity to move to Taipei, Taiwan, kicking off a love affair with Asia, and with travel, that would last her lifetime. While living in Hong Kong, and unsatisfied with the educational options for her first child, Bobbie spearheaded the creation of a Montessori school called The Children’s House and worked as one of the primary administrators of the school, which remains operational to this day. After moving to Miami, FL with her now three children in tow, Bobbie trained to become a Montessori school teacher and subsequently worked for 13 years at three schools across Florida and Connecticut, focused on preschool and kindergarten school students. This work culminated at The Montessori School in Wilton, CT. While a teacher, Bobbie became fascinated with the deeper work needed to help children and families with their emotional needs, and she studied part-time to obtain licensed certification as a psychoanalyst and psychotherapist and a Masters in marriage and family therapy from Fairfield University. For the last 28 years, during the depths of her disease and up until the week before she passed, Bobbie saw and helped hundreds of clients work through their most challenging family issues.
We deeply appreciate all of the love and support shown to Bobbie and her family during the past many months. We are so grateful for her profound role in our lives, and we will miss her more than words can possibly express.
We will love you forever Mom/Bobbie/GrandBobbie!
