Bernard F. "Bernie" Gallagher, Jr., 67, left us on January 15, 2015 after a long illness. Born in Acushnet, the son of Doris (Masson) Gallagher and the late Bernard F. Gallagher, he was a lifelong resident of New Bedford.
After graduating in 1965 from New Bedford Vocational High School in the Electrical Department, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy following a family tradition of his father in World War II and his grandfather Anthony in World War I. Upon completing EM training in Great Lakes, IL, and achieving the rank of EM3, he served aboard the USS Jacana and the USS Valley Forge during the Vietnam Conflict. In 1972, he was awarded an honorable discharge as well as various service medals.
Bernie earned his Master Electrician's license and worked for many local contractors prior to his illness. He had a big heart and was always willing to help someone and shared what he knew with "newbies" learning the trade.
He is survived by his mother, Doris; his sister and caretaker, Sheila Gallagher and her companion and Bernie's best friend Daniel Shea, of New Bedford; his devoted niece, Heidi Abendroth of Swampscott; a sister, JoAnn Gisborne of Englewood, FL and Dartmouth; a daughter, Jane Charron and her husband Jamie, and two grandsons Camden and Jackson, of Falmouth, ME. He is also survived by a brother, Michael, his wife Rosemary and their children, as well as several aunts and uncles and many cousins.
He was the father of the late Jason F. Gallagher, uncle of the late Steven Abendroth, Jr., and brother-in-law of the late David Gisborne who never let a Navy man down
A private memorial service with military honors will be held later this month with burial at Riverside Cemetery in Fairhaven. Arrangements are by the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.