Jerry Joseph Gallagher

Jerry Gallagher, 70 years old, passed away peacefully in Arcadia on Wednesday, 16 December 2009. Jerry succumbed to the effects of pancreatic cancer after fighting against it for several months. Jerry, a true California native, was born October 10, 1939 in Alhambra, to James and Isabel Gallagher, and remained a local resident of Temple City, and finally Arcadia. Jerry now joins his parents and siblings, James Gallagher and Joann Sullivan, who preceded him in death. Prior to his illness, Jerry enjoyed many activities, including traveling, camping, NASCAR, and gardening. During his nearly 40 years in his current home, he could regularly be seen giving a wave of hello to passing friends as he maintained his front yard and rose garden. Other activities he was fond of include the 35 years he worked for the Los Angeles County Public Works, in the Flood Control division; he was also very devoted to his church, Holy Angeles, and could be found there often, as an usher, Eucharistic minister assisting others in need, and was a mainstay at the church’s annual festival. During his last few years, the long time NASCAR fan began to enjoy car restoration, focusing his efforts on turning a broken down 1966 El Camino into a show case car that impressed everyone who saw it. Jerry’s surviving family includes his daughters Debbie Lesh, of Eugene OR, Amanda Durant and her husband Alan, of San Diego, and sons, Eric Gallagher, and his partner Matthew Hurst, of Van Nuys, and Robert Gallagher and his wife Debbie, of Rockledge, FL. He has 5 grandchildren, Jimmy and Tanya Lesh, Alyssa and Arianna Durant, and Alexander Gallagher-Hurst. Jerry’s nephew, Chad Sullivan, son of his sister Joanne, and his wife Christine, of Whittier, and their children Anthony and Savannah were also very close to Jerry’s heart. Jerry’s life was spent helping his family, friends and strangers, and he was very satisfied with what he accomplished throughout. For those who knew him, a final good bye could be summed up with a cheerful, “BANAHMANAH” Memorial Mass will be held on Saturday, January 16th at 10:00 am, at Holy Angels Church, 370 Campus Drive, Arcadia, CA 91007, with a reception to be held afterward at the Embassy Suites, located at 211 East Huntington Drive, Arcadia, California, United States 91006.