James J. Gallagher

Waltham – Mr. James J. Gallagher, of Waltham, died Tuesday, October 27, 2015 at Saint Patrick's Manor in Framingham. He was 86.

Jim was born in Waltham on February 15, 1929, a son of the late Edward L. and Margaret (Judge) Gallagher. After graduating from Boston College High School in 1946 he went on to graduate from Saint Michael's College in Winooski, Vermont, with the Class of 1951.

During the Korean War he proudly served with the United States Army. On November 24, 1956 he married Watertown native Carol Ann Landry in Saint Patrick's Church and the couple made their home in Waltham.

Jim was very active at Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church where he served as Eucharistic Minister and was involved in many parish activities. He enjoyed being a member of the Knights of Columbus, Council No. 14710, and was very involved as an alumnus of Saint Michael's College.

At "St. Mike's" he served on the Board of Trustees and was honored with the Alumnus of the Year Award in 1981. Jim established the Carol Landry Gallagher academic scholarship in his late wife's name to help deserving students from Waltham and Watertown attend his alma mater. As former alumni president, he instituted the Colonel Donald Cook '56 Award which recognizes alumni who unselfishly gave of themselves in service to others.

Jim is survived and will be lovingly missed by his children, Brian J. Gallagher of Gloucester, Sue Ellen and her husband, Robert Travers, of Northborough and Tehri and her husband, John Gasparrini, of Ridgefield, Connecticut; his grandchildren, of whom he was so proud, Conor, Lauren and Kelley Travers and Drew, Kara, Mathew, Jenna, William and Benjamin Gasparrini; his siblings, Rev. Edward L. Gallagher, Jr. of San Diego, California, Hugh Gallagher and his wife, Lynn, of Natick, John A. Gallagher and his wife, Marianne, of Canadaigua, New York and Mary Watts of Auburndale and many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends will honor and remember Jim's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Sunday, November 1st from 2 to 5 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Monday morning before leaving in procession to Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church, 880 Trapelo Road, Waltham where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Newton Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Carol Landry Gallagher Scholarship, Saint Michael's College, One Winooski Park, Colchester, VT 05439.