There was nothing ordinary about John P. “Jack” Gallagher ’63 (B.S.). Everything about him and his love for Saint Joseph’s was most extraordinary. His father, John P. Sr. ’31 (B.S.), named the school’s legendary mascot. The extended Gallagher family established the full-tuition, endowed scholarship awarded to each year’s Hawk in his memory.
Gallagher’s own involvement with the University included membership on the Board of Trustees (1994-2003), past presidencies of the SJU Alumni Association and the Hawk Hoop Club, and the founding of the Alumni mentor Program. He won the Hogan Award for dedication and service to Saint Joseph’s in 2003 and was inducted into the Erivan K. Haub School of Business' Hall of Fame in 1992. Cofounder of Gallagher Tire, now located in Levittown, Pa., Gallagher’s commitment and perseverance extended to his business endeavors. Under his leadership, the company became a multimillion dollar distributor of specialty tires. He retired in 2003.
Gallagher’s sudden death on October 24, 2006, was an enormous loss for wife ane, sons J.P. and Michael ’97 (B.A.), brother Robert F. Sr., nephew Bobby 98 (B.S.), ’99 (M.S.),“The Hawk” in 1997-98, and a legion of alumni and riends with longstanding connections to SJU.
Ed Trainer ’63 (B.A.), classmate and former Alumni Association president, shared some of his own thoughts. “When I read the note that Jack had been called home to his heavenly reward, my initial reaction was that a board seat had just opened and our divine Lord needed it to be filled. Not by just anyone, however. This person needed to be a man of faith, a devoted and loving family man, a tough Irishman, a Jesuit-educated individual, and a dyed-in-the-wool Hawk. What can we say about this man, who long ago fulfilled his duty to his God, to his family, to his community, and to his alma mater? We can say we are that much better for his having passed our way. We can say, for the most part, that his charity and good deeds are known only to the recipients and to the Lord. We can thank Almighty God for putting Jack on this earth, and we can thank his beloved Jane for sharing him with us.”