Bart Russell Callan

Bart Russell Callan passed away unexpectedly at the age of 48 at his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His loyal boxer, Maggie, remained by his side, keeping watch over him until he was found.

He is survived by his girlfriend Sabrina and her daughter, Samantha; his loving mother Connie Rossignol Callan; his sister Danelle Callan Adams, and her husband, Joseph Adams; and his aunts and uncles: Judith Callan, Sally Callan, Lee Callan, Mark Rossignol, and Rick Rossignol and his wife, Connie. 

He was preceded in death by his father John Russell Callan, former Mayor of Corrales; and his grandparents: Rosemary Alarid Neff, Daniel Neff, Rosy Rossignol, and Russell Callan.

Bart lived a unique and complex life, and through it all, he was always surrounded by family who loved him deeply. He grew up in Albuquerque, spending his early years on the east side before moving to Corrales during middle school. Corrales in the 1980s was rural and quiet, with dirt roads and long drives to get anywhere. Going out to eat was a special family treat, often requiring a 30-45 minute trek across town, when Coors was still partly dirt and streetlights were few, to enjoy meals at Furr's near Coors and I-40.

From a young age, Bart had a deep love for animals, especially dogs. His German Shepherd, Saxony, was his constant companion, and the two slept side by side every night. Saxony even had a habit of "helping" by destroying Bart's nighttime braces and retainers, something Bart would never admit might have been a little convenient.

Bart was active and adventurous in his youth. He raced dirt bikes with his father and family friends across several states, earning many trophies along the way, and spent winters skiing with friends and family before eventually switching to snowboarding. In high school, he found a creative outlet in drama, studying under Joan Kent at Cibola High School. He even starred in a training video titled "Risking It," directed by his mother, Connie, for 50,000 high schools nationally on the Pacific Mountain Network, at a time when distance learning relied on studio-quality production and satellite broadcasting.

Like his father, Bart had an independent spirit. He asked questions, challenged expectations, and followed his own path, usually in his own time and in his own way. He was recognized as a "Who's Who Among American High School Students" and later attended the University of New Mexico. While traditional schooling was not always the right fit, he went on to earn his degree in business from the University of Phoenix while working for America Online in Albuquerque.

Bart was naturally hands-on and mechanically inclined, with an intuitive understanding of how things worked. He loved working on cars, a passion well known to those who knew him, and took pride in vehicles like his Chevy Impala convertible and his black Grand Sport 80 Corvette. If something had an engine, Bart was probably taking it apart, improving it, or at least giving strong opinions about it, much to his dad's dismay.

Professionally, Bart worked as a project manager for the National Educational Technology Network (NETN), where he helped produce and direct training videos and animations for clients, including Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories. His work supported the mining industry and environmental research. He also co-authored a scientific paper on radioactive waste management that was presented at an international conference.

After NETN closed, Bart embraced a more free-spirited lifestyle. He spent time traveling, including several years living in Mexico. Following his father's passing, he returned to Albuquerque, though his love of the road never left him. He often set out on spontaneous journeys, driving to places both familiar and unexpected, from Flint, Michigan to Chicago, and countless small towns along the way. He once joked that he had stopped to pee in every major river in the country during a cross-country trip, which, knowing Bart, may or may not have been entirely true, but it certainly sounded like something he would accomplish.

Bart will be remembered for living life in his own way, with creativity, curiosity, and independence. As his motto in life went, "Bart does Bart things," always following his own path. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

A Celebration of Life will be held at French Mortuary, 7121 Wyoming Blvd NE, on Tuesday, March 31. Services will be on Tuesday, March 31, at 11:00 a.m., with a reception to follow onsite.

The family would deeply appreciate you sharing any memories of Bart, along with any photos you may have, as we continue to remember and celebrate his life. Go to comments and add any stories and photos.