Obituary: Vincent 'Vinny' Patrick Callanan, 81, Of Wilton, Bus Driver

Information and Photo Courtesy Jowdy-Kane Funeral Home

WILTON, CT — Vincent “Vinny” Patrick Callanan, 81, of Wilton, died peacefully on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023. He was the loving husband of Winifred “Una” (O’Brien) Callanan.

Vinny was born in Kilreekill, Co. Galway, Ireland on April 5, 1941; a son of the late Richard and Teresa (Donlon) Callanan. He immigrated to the United States in March, 1953 at the age of 11 and grew up in the Bronx, NY. He attended St. Simon Stock High School in the Bronx and later worked for 22 years as a bus driver for the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) in New York City.

Upon retiring from the MTA, he began his second career as a school bus driver, first on Long Island from 1991 to 2005 and then, upon relocating to be near his grandchildren, for the Wilton School District in Connecticut, where he drove bus No. 28 for the next 10 years.

Naturally warm and outgoing, Vinny rarely encountered a stranger and, if so, they usually didn’t remain a stranger for long. Whether driving busy New Yorkers (and more than a few well-known television personalities), or kindergarteners through high school kids, Vinny greeted everyone with a warm smile — and often a compliment or lighthearted tease. His ability to recall and ask about the smallest details in others’ lives made him not just a friendly man but a dear friend to so many. Even years after he retired from driving school buses, he often encountered shouts of “Vinny!” from former student passengers – some of whom now young adults – while he was out and around town. He could often be seen attending his grandchildren’s sporting events in Wilton and in Fairfield, coffee in hand, chatting with all of the parents and kids.

Vinny was a faithful and beloved parishioner of Sacred Heart Church, Georgetown. He and Una attended mass daily and actively participated in all church activities. He and Una previously led the Youth Group at St. Sylvester’s Church in Medford, NY, where among many activities and contributions, Vinny is fondly remembered for his obtaining, driving and maintaining an old red, white, and blue school bus to provide transportation for the youth group members to travel to events and activities.

In his spare time, Vinny enjoyed working with his hands, repairing anything from cars and buses to lawn mowers and leaf blowers. His knack for diagnosing a mechanical problem and repairing it with whatever means available earned him the nickname “MacGyver” from his family and friends.

But even more so than his own pursuits, Vinny found his greatest joy in spending time around his family – and his grandchildren most of all. He forged a special relationship with each of them. He took great pride in having taught 7 of his 9 children how to drive and they could never leave a visit with Grandpa and Grandma without his slipping them some spending money.

As a man who lost his mother as a child and was sent to America on his own as a young boy to be raised by relatives, he grew into the perfect, gentle, caring yet strong and infallibly reliable patriarch of his own family.

Vinny is survived by his wife of 61 years, Una, and their three children: Terry D’Elisa; John “Sean” Callanan, and Kevin Callanan and his wife, Weifei. Vinny is also survived by 9 grandchildren: Nicole, John, Michael, Matt and Chrissy D’Elisa; Joey and Brendan Callanan, and Mia and Conor Callanan. In addition, Vinny is survived by his brother, Richard Desmond “Des” Callanan and his wife, Anne as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his brothers John (“John Joe”), Francis (“Frank”) and sister Carmel O’Hara.

Family and friends will be received on Monday, February 20, 2023 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Kane Funeral Home; 25 Catoonah Street, Ridgefield.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, February 21, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at Saint Mary's Church; 55 Catoonah Street, Ridgefield. The funeral mass will also be available via livestream by clicking the link here.

Interment will follow in Saint Mary's Cemetery; 110 North Street, Ridgefield.