Capt. Robert Stephen Gallagher (USAF), 65, of Nantucket, MA passed away from respiratory failure in the arms of his family after a brave 5 month long health battle on February 17th, 2023. He leaves behind his beloved wife Colleen (Doherty) and cherished daughter, Kelly. He was a devoted son to Anne and Robert Gallagher. Bob is reunited in heaven with his siblings Stephen and Kathleen. He leaves behind his dear siblings Daniel, Anne Margaret and her husband Ray Chase. He was a loving uncle to Emily Chase and to Stephen and his wife Melissa Gallagher, as well as to their children Thomas Robert & Ava Grace. Bob shared a special bond with his grandparents Anthony & Nora and Stephen & Elizabeth who predeceased him.
Raised in Trumbull, CT, he was a brilliant scholar and a capable athlete on the football field at Trumbull HS (class of ‘76). He graduated from Fairfield University ‘80 with a BS in Business Management and went on to join the USAF. He dedicated his life in service to his country. After leaving the USAF, Bob joined the Department of Defense where he served as an Operations Specialist in the Intelligence field for over 40 years. At his 2020 retirement ceremony, his family, never knowing quite what he did in secret all those years, learned that Bob was responsible for saving countless lives as a result of his tireless dedication.
The loss of his father at 19 years of age had a profound impact on Bob. From supporting children’s charities to local families, he wanted to prevent others from experiencing the pain he endured. He didn’t want any child to feel the absence of a father figure in their life. Bob has always been the first person to offer help, most times before it was ever asked, never expecting anything in return. He was humble, generous, and truly kind.
Bob had a lifelong love for animals and supported charities for animal rescue and wildlife conservation. As a boy, he would rescue animals with the help of his mom and there were usually several dogs and cats in the Gallagher homestead. His fondest childhood memory was of nursing a duck he affectionately called “Beep Beep” back to health. An avid learner, he took courses in his spare time and worked towards an MS in Business at BC and Northeastern. During the advent of the internet, Bob took a computer programming class. For his final project, he created an award winning website on Logistics for the Air Force that became the standard operating procedure for the government of Australia’s business operations with the US military.
Bob met the love of his life, Colleen, when he was 25 years old. He proposed within months - on Valentine’s Day! A true love match, they shared nearly 40 years together. They joyfully raised their beautiful daughter, Kelly, in Millis, MA. After surviving 5 strokes during the summer of 2019, Bob retired to Nantucket with the help of his wife and daughter. His life on Nantucket allowed his family to care for him and to create precious moments together - from taking in a beautiful sunset, to driving onto the beach for the day to read and soak in the sunshine, to enjoying a nap or a movie in his home with his beloved dogs.
Most importantly, Bob loved his family and the simple pleasures of life - a good cup of coffee, the sound of the ocean waves, and music from his favorite artists KISS and Taylor Swift. His life was cut far too short after suffering a subdural hematoma from a fall in September 2022. He fought to make it home until his very last breath. Our hearts are broken at the loss of a truly great man. We take peace in the knowledge of a life of love and service. Bob’s was a life well lived. The world is better off for all that Bob did, the gentleman he was and the love he left behind.
Visiting hours will be held at the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 477 Washington St., (Rt.16) Wellesley on Sunday, Mar. 5 from 1-5pm. A Funeral Mass will be held in Corpus Christi Church, 324 Quaker Meetinghouse Rd., East Sandwich on Monday, Mar. 6 at 11am. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Interment in the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne at 12:30pm.
In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations are made in honor of Bob’s memory to the family GoFundMe, “In Memory of Robert Gallagher”. https://gofund.me/e391c11f