William Callaghan, Chairman of Sterling Possessions/Thistle & Bee, died on Wednesday, October 9, 2013 in New York after a brief illness. He was 70 years old.
Born in the Bronx, Bill attended Fordham Prep and Fordham University. He received his Masters of Business degree from New York University. He subsequently served in the National Guard at Fort Campbell in Kentucky.
Bill enjoyed a long and successful career in the Retail and Jewelry Industries.After Fordham, Bill began his career with Federated Stores, where he worked at the Bloomingdales Headquarters in New York. Bill later went on to establish Callaghan Associates, an executive search practice in New York specializing in the Retail segment.
In 1987, Bill co-founded Sterling Possessions/Thistle & Bee, a fine sterling silver jewelry and giftware company, which he and his partners built to prominence over the years. With established offices in New York, Florence, Hong Kong and Bangkok, Bill took great pride in Thistle & Bee, the firm’s signature brand, and the extensive private label business through Sterling Possessions, LLC. He most enjoyed industry events, often a mainstay at JA, JCK, NY Gift Fair and Instore Shows.
Bill served on the board of Gamco Investors Group and was a generous contributor to many charities, including Jewelers for Children. His gentle counsel and considerate presence will be sorely missed.
