Obituary of John Gallagher

GALLAGHER John H., Age 82, died peacefully on Sunday, May 8, 2011 after a long illness. Born in Ridgewood, John was a long-time resident of Saddle River before moving to Allendale eleven years ago. John was the son of John C. and Jennie Gallagher (nee Ditzenberger). He was educated in Ridgewood schools, St. Peter's Prep in Jersey City, and graduated cum laude from The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War for two years. John was widowed at thirty when his first wife of seven years, Virginia Ford, died at age 27 in 1958. He married his second wife, Liz, at the Church of St. Gabriel in 1960. They celebrated their 50th anniversary last September. John is survived by his wife, Liz, and their three children: John A. Gallagher of Marietta, GA; Cathy Gallagher and her husband, Bill Yobbagy, of Downingtown, PA; and Christopher Gallagher and his wife, Cristy Gallagher of Alexandria, VA. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Meg and Jack Gallagher of Alexandria, VA and by his step-grandchildren: Amanda and Elissa Yobbagy of Chalfont, PA. In addition he is survived by his much loved cousin, Lorraine Gallagher Thompson, of Winston Salem, NC. John's first career was in international trade at the export firm of W.D. Blood & Co. in New York City. In his second career he and Liz became realtors, first with Murphy Realty, and then with Coldwell Banker in Saddle River. John enjoyed writing poetry, both serious and funny. Friends may visit the family on Wednesday, 2:00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 PM at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home (www.vpfh.com), 257 Godwin Ave., Wyckoff. Funeral Mass, Thursday, 10:00 AM at St. Gabriel's R.C. Church, 88 East Saddle River Road, Saddle River, followed by burial at Maryrest Cemetery, Mahwah. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942.