Brockport hockey alumnus Bob Gallagher passed away in February and his family is holding a memorial mass in Saranac Lake this Saturday. Here's Bob's obituary in advance of his service...
Robert “Bob” John Gallagher, 58,
from Meridian, Idaho, passed away in peace at home with his family
surrounding him on Feb. 18, 2018, from esophageal cancer.
Bob grew up in Saranac Lake and was the son of Thomasina and the late Bill Gallagher.
Since he was a little boy, Bob loved sports and was a terrific
athlete. He made lifelong friends with his neighborhood sports mates and
later played on varsity sports teams: baseball, football and, best of
all, his much-loved hockey for Saranac Lake High School. Bob went on to
win a hockey scholarship to the University of New York at Brockport,
where he was a fierce defenseman. During and since graduating from
college with a B.A. in business, Bob worked for his older brother Chip
Gallagher in the construction business.
For the past 20 years Bob was a project manager and superintendent
for Visser Building, a Boise, Idaho-based company co-owned by his
brother Chip and Brian Visser. Bob’s clients loved him and loved the
homes he built for them. They are architectural gems.
It was in Boise where Bobby met the love of his life, Anita. Bob and
Anita married in 1999. Together they made their home in Meridan, Idaho.
Bob had one beloved daughter, Tabitha, from a previous marriage.
Bob was a “shirt off his back kind of guy.”
Everyone who knew Bob knew of his generosity, his tireless work ethic,
his rock-solid integrity, his ready smile and his wonderful sense of
humor. He was totally down to earth. One of his clients described Bob as
“a classic. He broke the mold. He was irreverent in the greatest sense of the term.” Others described Bob as one of the kindest men they knew. His sisters called him their big teddy bear.
Most of all, Bob was a family man. He loved spending time with his
family, enjoying the outdoors and assuming the role of grill master for
picnics and parties. Bob was a faithful teacher, coach and cheerleader
for his daughter and nieces. He passed on his love for skating, golfing,
fishing, boating, skiing, camping, you name it.
Bob was a faithful Boise State fan and attended many of their games
with family and friends. If you go to a game and listen very carefully,
you may still hear Bob’s booming voice cheering on his home team. We
cannot see Bobby, but we know he will always be with us.
Bob is survived by his beloved wife Anita Gallagher, mother
Thomasina Gallagher, sister Gail (Jerry Cole) Gallagher, brother William
“Chip” (Carol) Gallagher, sister
Felista (Skip Murray) Gallagher, brother Kevin Gallagher, sister Ann
Gallagher, and sister Beth Gallagher, daughter Tabitha Gallagher,
step-daughter Tami Vandeman, grandchildren Ashley Tooke-Robinson and Sol
Vandeman, and many nieces and nephews, including MacKenzie Gallagher
Wood, Katharine Gallagher Downey, Jacquelyn and Melina Gallagher. Bob
was preceded in death by his father William Francis Gallagher IV.
A memorial Mass will be held on Saturday, Aug. 18 at 11 a.m. at St.
Bernard’s Church in Saranac Lake with the Rev. Patrick Ratigan
officiating, followed by a burial at Harrietstown Cemetery. Afterward
there will be a reception Saranac Village at Will Rogers in Saranac
Lake.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the St. Bernard’s
Church capital campaign or the Ecumenical Council of Saranac Lake to
support the Samaritan House or the Tri-Lakes Humane Society.
