Obituaries

Bryan J. Califano, 50, died Monday at Regional Hospital of Scranton after suddenly being stricken ill at home after a courageous one-month battle with cancer. His loving wife is the former Tara Tabarrini. The couple celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on June 5th.

Born November 15, 1968 in Brooklyn, NY, he was the son of the late John and Pauline Nangano Califano. A 1987 graduate of Dunmore High School, he earned his Associates Degree in Electronics from Johnson College in 2000.
A proud Navy Veteran, he served in the Persian Gulf and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal with 2 Bronze Stars, Combat Action Ribbon, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. Bryan was employed as an Electronics Mechanic at Tobyhanna Army Depot for 19 years,and traveled for the Depot to Kuwait after 9/11. He was a member of Prince of Peace Parish, Old Forge.

Bryan enjoyed going out to restaurants, watching movies, and frequenting the gun range. But his children were his true pride and joy. Bryan loved spending time together as a family and bragging about their accomplishments. Taken too soon, he will be deeply missed but never forgotten by all who knew and loved him.

He is survived by his daughter, Cassidy Califano, and boyfriend, Teagan Edsell, Collegeville; son, Cooper Califano, and girlfriend, Alyssa Salerno, Old Forge; sister, Paula Heim, and husband, William, Moscow; brother, John Califano, and wife, Terri, South Bend, Indiana; father-in-law, Richard Tabarrini, Sr., Old Forge; sister-in-law, Dr. Megan Kolter, and husband, Mike, Chester Springs; brother-in-law, Richard Tabarrini, Jr., and wife, Christina, Skippack; and many nieces and nephews, great niece and nephew; and also his good friend, Joseph (Joey G) Gulbin.

His mother-in-law, Carol Tabarrini, preceded him in death.

In our time of great need, God often sends “angels”, and the family would like to thank thier neighbors, Kim Hoover and Barb Stelmack, for being those “angels” and helping Cooper and Bryan during at his immediate time of need.

Funeral services will begin Monday at 9:15 AM from the Thomas P. Kearney Funeral Home, Inc., 517 North Main Street, Old Forge, with a 10 AM Mass of Christian Burial at St. Mary of the Assumption Church, Prince of Peace Parish, to be celebrated by Rev. August Ricciardi, Pastor. Military Honors by the AmVets Honor Guard will conclude the service.

Relatives and friends may pay their respects on Sunday between 2-5 PM at the funeral home.

Please visit the funeral home’s website for directions or to leave an online condolence.