John "Jack" O'Callaghan

Jack S. O’Callaghan, Jr., 59 of Bartlett, loving husband of Angela, nee Kessel; son of Jack, Sr. and Arlene; brother of Sean and Kevin (Grace); son-in-law of Frances (late Bernard) Kessel; brother-in-law of Danette (David) Trupp, Michael (Patti) Kessel, Michele (late Brian) Cheshier and Amy (Jeff) Reed; nephew to many aunts and uncles; uncle to several nieces and nephews, and a loyal friend to many.

Jack grew up in Wilmette, IL and graduated from Loyola Academy. He went on to graduate from University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana with a degree in Business Administration and earned an Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics license at the Institute of Aviation (since closed) in 1984. His love of airplanes and aviation started as a kid when his dad brought home a small plane that was wrecked in a windstorm. Although rebuilding the plane failed, the cockpit was stored in the basement and ended up being a playground for Jack and his brothers. After graduation he worked for several different companies on collections of current and historic aircraft before being hired by American Airlines where he worked for 35 years as a Technical Crew Chief at O’Hare. He occasionally remarked “I can’t believe they pay me to do this stuff.” While at American Airlines, Jack, being the gregarious man that he was, became involved with a pilot group at O’Hare showing future pilots around the American maintenance facility. As an outgrowth, Jack and colleague Gary Percy, became involved with high school students, showing them the value of an aviation maintenance career. This led to involvement in the American Airlines Technical Operations Leadership seminars for new crew chiefs and supervisors. They continued to pursue their operational excellence certification using the high school and college educational outreach program as the basis of their certification. Today, American Airlines aircraft maintenance in Chicago has a partnership with high school district 214 as well as Lewis University thanks to Jack’s initial involvement. He was so proud to have been a part of this program from the beginning. With his love of aviation, as part of his vacation, Jack was a regular volunteer at the annual Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Fly-in at Oshkosh, WI. He was a member of the “West Ramp Rats” crew that managed show aircraft on the main display ramp area. He loved spending his vacation working with this crew. He was so proud being a part of this team.

In his spare time, Jack evolved into a gourmet chef where he did not want any help or person in “his kitchen” when preparing a holiday feast. He went so far as to put tape on the floor to limit his mother-in-law from entering into his space. It never stopped her!

He enjoyed cycling. He loved riding on the trails and taking in some of the breath-taking nature around him. He loved the comradery with his biking buddies. They would push each other to do better, go farther, go faster, and just to enjoy each other. Jack was an avid reader of Tom Clancy novels, loved anything aviation, and history. He loved airplanes so much that he said he wouldn’t marry Angela unless she could identify the aircraft he worked on. He bought her an airplane book and would quiz her nearly daily. Apparently she passed, and they married in 1990. Jack was a loving husband, confidante, best friend and soul mate to her. They were inseparable…except when Oshkosh time came. Jack was an animal lover. His children were of the “furry” nature. He and Angela had at most nine felines at one time. Not accounting for the 25 or more feral cats that they would trap, neuter or have spayed and then release.

Jack loved life! He loved his family, friends and there were never strangers, only friends he hadn’t yet met. He was special in so many ways. The world has lost one great man and we are heart broken.


Visitation is Thursday, February 3rd, 9:00 am until the time of his service 12 pm/noon at Countryside Funeral Home, 950 South Bartlett Rd., Bartlett, IL 60103. Cremation will be private at the Countryside Crematory following his service. In lieu of flowers, donations to Teen Turf 235 W. Main St., Amboy IL 61310 or Women in Aviation at https://www.wai.org/donate/ , “In Memory of Jack O’Callaghan”.



Luncheon at O’Hare’s Pub, 391 Bartlett Plaza, Bartlett, IL 60103 following the service. All are invited to attend.