Robert “Bob” Gallagher died peacefully in his home on the morning of December 6th, 2022. His sister, Joan, was with him as he passed. Bob grew up in Fall River, MA as the youngest of four children (Mary, Michael, Joan, and Bob). He attended Boston College and studied English, and was later a teacher at BC. He eventually went to work at Fidelity Investments, where he spent most of his career as a facilities planner and later in human resources.
Bob and his beloved husband, William J. Lynch, were together for more than 40 years before Bill passed in 2012. They were an unforgettable couple that everyone loved being around. Bob described their relationship as being the achievement he was most proud of in his life. Bob was obsessed with the Russian Royal family. He bought every available book in English, and when he ran out of English books, he started ordering books from Russia to look for photos he hadn’t seen. In 2002, he spent two weeks in Russia touring palaces, where he would regularly correct the tour guides.
Bob loved opera, theater, music, and films. When the list of Top 100 films of all times was released in 2000, Bob spent months finding when the films aired on TV and recording them. He was furious when they released a revised list in 2010. He was even more furious when on-demand movies made his recorded collection of DVDs obsolete. Bob loved to travel. He went all over the world, collecting magnets to remember his journeys. From Italy to Argentina to Spain to Ireland…Bob vacationed with such pace and determination that he required vacations to recover from his vacations.
Bob had a seemingly endless network of friends. His loyalty, generosity, and kindness attracted people throughout his life. Bob also spent the last years of his life in a relationship with Pablo Gainza, who was a great source of joy and companionship.
Bob is survived by his beloved sister, Joan Gallagher of Arlington, who cared for him tirelessly at the end. Bob also leaves behind a profound and loving legacy with his nephews Mike and Chris, and their respective families (Mike, Shani, Jack, and Alex of Haddonfield, NJ; Chris, Annie, Tucker, Brinda, Neave of Sheldon, IA). Both families loved Bob deeply and will remember joyful weekends in Boston touring museums, swapping stories during cocktail hour, and eating bugles and clam dip.
As he faced the end, Bob’s nephew asked Bob if he was scared. “Not at all,” he answered with quiet conviction. “I have no regrets about my life whatsoever.”
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend visiting hours at the Dello Russo Funeral Home, 306 Main St., Medford, Friday, December 16th from 4 through 8 PM. A private burial will be held at a later date.