Sunday, August 08, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Nevada mourns former first lady

O'Callaghan matriarch dies at 68

Carolyn O'Callaghan Wife of former governor died Saturday morning

Carolyn O'Callaghan, wife of former Gov. Mike O'Callaghan, died Saturday morning from surgical complications. She was 68.

"Our matriarch is gone," said her daughter, Teresa Duke. "She's hopefully with the man she loves."

Carolyn O'Callaghan had been in the hospital since emergency heart surgery Monday and seemed to be recovering, but her condition suddenly took a turn for the worse, Duke said.

Mike O'Callaghan died in March after suffering a heart attack during Mass at St. Viator Catholic Church. He was 74.

The couple's 50th wedding anniversary would have been Aug. 25.

"I don't think a man could have had a better help-mate than Mike had with Carolyn," said Janet Smith, a friend of the couple and the mother of Review-Journal columnist John L. Smith. "He could be very difficult at times, and Carolyn was always there for him. She always supported him in any endeavor, no matter how far-fetched it seemed."

Mike O'Callaghan was one of the most popular political figures in state history. He served as governor from 1971 to 1979. At the time of his death, he was the Las Vegas Sun's executive editor and chairman of the board.

Smith, who served in Mike O'Callaghan's administration, said he had little time to spare when he started teaching school and coaching boxing in Henderson in the 1950s. So his wife, who was pregnant, took it upon herself to build an addition to the family home.

"Carolyn could do anything she set her mind to," Smith said.

Funeral arrangements were pending.