Obituary of John Gallagher

John Bernard Gallagher, 85, of Freehold Township passed away peacefully on Friday, October 23, 2015 at his home surrounded by family. The son of Irish immigrants Margaret Mary and Bernard Gallagher, John resided in Bayonne before moving to Freehold Township in 1965. He was a U.S. Army Korean War veteran and Seton Hall University alum graduating in 1961. John spent 53 years working in the maritime insurance business, starting in the mailroom at U.S. Lines, working up the ranks and finishing his career as President of Trimar Defense Service Inc. in New York. He was sought out as a wise mentor by young staff members, never hesitant to provide guidance. John relished the travel to ports of call in the UK and Scandinavia afforded him through his career. He was a soccer enthusiast serving as a founding member of the Greater Freehold Soccer League in 1970. He was a life-long Mets and Giants fan, but his absolute favorite teams were the ones on which his children and grandchildren participated. John was a generous host offering a toast at every gathering that thanked his guests for visiting. He was a devout Catholic and a long-time parishioner at St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church. John was a dedicated husband, father and grandfather. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Eleanor McAuliffe Gallagher; one daughter, Ellen Gallagher Zinke and her husband, Jon William, of Hong Kong; two sons, John F. Gallagher and his wife, Audrey, of Chicago and James J. Gallagher and his wife, Catharine, of New York; seven grandchildren, Caitlin, Ryan, Addyson, Kelsey, Tessa, Sofie and Jack; and one sister, Margaret Mary Foglio, of Jackson, New Jersey. Visitation will be held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524), Freehold Township on Thursday, October 29, 2015 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM. Relatives and friends are invited to gather at 9:00 AM on Friday, October 30, 2015 at the funeral home for the procession to his 10:00 AM Funeral Mass at St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church, 61 Georgia Road, Freehold Township. Interment will follow in the Brigadier General William C. Doyle NJ Veterans Cemetery, Arneytown. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, (ALSAC) 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. For information, directions or condolence messages to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com