The Hon. Vincent Francis Callahan Jr, died at age 82 today. He was reported having been hospitalized with West Nile Virus encephalitis earlier this summer. He began a 40 year career as a moderate Republican representing Northern Virginia, and the City of Falls Church for a period in the 1980s, in the Virginia House of Delegates. A native of Washington, D.C. he served with the U.S. Marines during the Korean War and was a graduate of the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. He served for 40 consecutive years in the legislature following his initial election in 1967. A member of the House Appropriations Committee, he is credited with contributing to the growth of George Mason University, the Northern Virginia Community College and the Wolf Trap Foundation.

Statements honoring his life and career today came from Gov. Terry McAuliffe and U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, all Democrats but acknowledging his contributions, friendship and willingness to work across the aisle to get things done.