Former Cape May County, New Jersey, Sheriff Has Passed Away

A former, respected Cape May County, New Jersey, Sheriff has passed away.

The tributes are pouring in.

Cape May County Sheriff’s Office

Shared the following on their Facebook page:

It is with a heavy heart that our agency announces the passing of the former, 98th Sheriff of Cape May County, John F Callinan. During his career of public service, Sheriff Callinan served in the United States Air Force and United States Army. He also worked for Bergen County Police Department in the 1960s and enlisted in the New Jersey State Police and was a graduate of the 54th Class, Badge #1577. He was a graduate of Seton Hall University and Fordham Law School. He practiced law as a trial lawyer in Cape May County and  ultimately became a partner in the Perskie-Callinan Law Firm in Wildwood. In 1982 he was appointed as a New Jersey Superior Court Judge by Governor Thomas Kean. His life of service culminated by serving two terms as Cape May County Sheriff from 2002-2009.

Cape GOP Chairman Michael Donohue

Michael Donohue, Cape May Regular Republican Chairman issued the following public statement on their Facebook page:

We join in the grieving of our Sheriff's Department and indeed our entire community in the loss of a man who was indeed one of its pillars for many years. John Callinan led an exemplary life of public service. He was a State Trooper, NJ Superior Court Judge, our County Sheriff and a good man. Highly intelligent and pragmatic, there is not an attorney of my generation and the one before that did not respect Judge Callinan. As Sheriff, he built upon a culture of caring professionalism that is carried on now by Sheriff Bob Nolan. At his core was an overt love for our great Nation. John loved America and believed in faith, family and Country. He will be missed by the CapeGOP family and the entire Cape May County family. His soul and his family and friends are in our prayers. Godspeed, Judge Callinan and thank you for your mentorship and caring for so many of us, wrote Donohue.

John Callinan Will Be Missed

All those who knew, or, work with John Callinan say the same thing. That he’ll be missed.

Callinan will be missed because of the man that he was and the integrity that he demonstrated throughout his lifetime.

SOURCES: Cape May County Sheriff’s Department & Michael Donohue, Cape May Regular Republican Chairman.