John G. "Jack" Gallagher

John G. “Jack” Gallagher, age 83 of Glen Mills, PA passed away, surrounded by his loving family, following a short illness on August 27, 2024.

Jack was the beloved husband for nearly 55 years of Mary (née Doyle) Gallagher, whom he affectionately called Ricki; son of Grace O’Donnell Marrone and Edward Dougherty; loving big brother of Fran Marrone; loving father of Heather G. Lowes (Bryan), Holly G. Worley (Andrew), and the late John Thomas Gallagher. He was the devoted grandfather of Serena, Mirabelle, Declan, and Austin. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Barbara Dempsey (James), brother-in-law, James Cahill (Delores)(Nancy), and many cherished nieces and nephews.

Jack was born on September 26, 1940, in Philadelphia to his loving mother and her large Irish Catholic family. He grew up in Havertown, where he attended St. Dennis grade school. When his mother married George Marrone in 1949, they moved to Overbrook, where Jack attended St. Callistus grade school and became immersed in the Irish-Italian neighborhood and earned the nickname “Sags.” He then attended St. Thomas More High School, which became a cherished institution for Jack, where he made many wonderful lifelong friends and graduated in 1959. 

Jack proudly served in the United States Marine Corps from 1959 to 1963. He was stationed primarily in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and Panama City, where he guarded the Panama Canal. He and his cherished roommate and friend, Cpl. J.W.Sedberry, managed to come in second place in the Jungle Warfare Training Course. 

Jack began his career in banking at First Pennsylvania Bank in Clifton Heights. He worked his way to Vice President while going to night school to earn his Bachelor’s Degree in Business from St. Joseph’s College. He graduated in 1969. In later years, he became a banking consultant, working at Deloitte Haskins & Sells. He then started his own company, Chancellor Consulting, named after St. Thomas More, in 1998.

Jack met Mary on a ski trip in the Pocono Mountains. They dated for a couple of years and got married on September 5, 1969. They lived in an apartment in Upper Darby before moving in 1973 to Drexel Hill, where they happily raised their three children.

In their later years, Jack and Mary volunteered at the USO, attended Marine Corps balls, were members of the Sons of Italy Club, and were surrounded by loving friends in Fox Hill Farm. Jack also continued to volunteer his time for St. Tommy More, organizing communion breakfasts and serving as a member of the Honor Guard and Board of Directors of the alumni association, into his 80s. Jack enjoyed spending time with his wife, his sister, and his children and grandchildren, following his beloved Philadelphia sports teams, listening to music, and most of all, eating. We will all miss him terribly.

A Visitation to honor Jack’s life will be held on Friday, September 6, 2024, 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM at The Donohue Funeral Home, 3300 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square, PA 19073, 610-353-6300, followed by his Funeral Service beginning at 11:00 AM. Interment will be held at SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery, Springfield, PA.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Jack’s memory would be appreciated to The USO, P.O. Box 96860, Washington, DC 20077-7677, https://www.uso.org/.