1920
Margaret
2011
Margaret M. Gallagher
December 14, 1920 — November 17, 2011
Mrs. Margaret M. (Keefe) Gallagher, of Waltham, died at home on Thursday, November 17, 2011. She was 90.
Margaret, lovingly known as Marge, was born on December 14, 1920 in Watertown, a daughter of the late Joseph and Margaret (McCluskey) Gallagher. She was a graduate of Saint Mary's High School in Waltham with the Class of 1939. Shortly before World War II she met her husband, William J. Gallagher, a U.S. Army Intelligence Officer, while choreographing a show at Saint Mary's Church. She later married him in 1943 in Saint Mary's Church.
Marge Gallagher was born to dance and was still dancing up until a short while ago. To Marge dancing meant happiness and it aided her in life's good times and bad. Her name is synonymous with Waltham and dancing. For over 25 years she owned and operated The Waltham Ballroom Dance Club. Her instructional career began along with her sister at The Keefe Sisters Dance Studio. Marge also taught at the Boston School for the Deaf in Randolph. She had been a dance instructor for 28 years at the Waltham Senior Citizens Center and taught at Reservoir Nursing Home while also directing the Golden Capers Show and in later years she taught dancing in the Waltham Adult Education Program.
Marge was active in her beloved City of Waltham. A member of Saint Mary's Church she also was a board member of the Waltham Parks and Recreation Department for over 27 years. She was active at the Waltham Senior Center and served on the Waltham board of the American Red Cross. A state Democrat chairwoman she was also a member of the Democrat National Finance Committee. She was awarded Woman of the Year in 1996 by the Waltham and Greater Boston Business and Professional Women's Club.
Her husband, former Waltham High School Headmaster, William J. Gallagher died August 20, 1997. She was also predeceased by her son, Joseph W. Gallagher and her siblings, Joseph Keefe, Grace Stein and Gertrude Lambert.
She leaves her children, Marcia J. Lopatka of Chicago, Kevin S. Gallagher of Waltham, Shauna M. Kennedy and her husband, Douglas, of Billerica and Stacey M. Tully and her husband, Shawn, of Waltham; her sister, Helen "Honey" Coen of Quincy; her grandchildren, Jeffrey and Ryan Lopatka, William Gallagher and his wife, Theresa, Kevin Gallagher, Jr., Phillip Kennedy and his wife, Anya, Matthew Kennedy, Leah Kennedy, and Jennifer and Joseph Tully; 4 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Family and friends will honor and remember Marge's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Sunday, November 20th from 2 to 6 p.m. and again at 8 a.m. on Monday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Mary's Church, 133 School Street, Waltham where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. Burial will be in Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne.
Memorials in her name may be made to The Friends of the Waltham Senior Citizens, c/o Eleanor Gibson, 9 Grosvenor Road, Waltham, 02453.
Margaret, lovingly known as Marge, was born on December 14, 1920 in Watertown, a daughter of the late Joseph and Margaret (McCluskey) Gallagher. She was a graduate of Saint Mary's High School in Waltham with the Class of 1939. Shortly before World War II she met her husband, William J. Gallagher, a U.S. Army Intelligence Officer, while choreographing a show at Saint Mary's Church. She later married him in 1943 in Saint Mary's Church.
Marge Gallagher was born to dance and was still dancing up until a short while ago. To Marge dancing meant happiness and it aided her in life's good times and bad. Her name is synonymous with Waltham and dancing. For over 25 years she owned and operated The Waltham Ballroom Dance Club. Her instructional career began along with her sister at The Keefe Sisters Dance Studio. Marge also taught at the Boston School for the Deaf in Randolph. She had been a dance instructor for 28 years at the Waltham Senior Citizens Center and taught at Reservoir Nursing Home while also directing the Golden Capers Show and in later years she taught dancing in the Waltham Adult Education Program.
Marge was active in her beloved City of Waltham. A member of Saint Mary's Church she also was a board member of the Waltham Parks and Recreation Department for over 27 years. She was active at the Waltham Senior Center and served on the Waltham board of the American Red Cross. A state Democrat chairwoman she was also a member of the Democrat National Finance Committee. She was awarded Woman of the Year in 1996 by the Waltham and Greater Boston Business and Professional Women's Club.
Her husband, former Waltham High School Headmaster, William J. Gallagher died August 20, 1997. She was also predeceased by her son, Joseph W. Gallagher and her siblings, Joseph Keefe, Grace Stein and Gertrude Lambert.
She leaves her children, Marcia J. Lopatka of Chicago, Kevin S. Gallagher of Waltham, Shauna M. Kennedy and her husband, Douglas, of Billerica and Stacey M. Tully and her husband, Shawn, of Waltham; her sister, Helen "Honey" Coen of Quincy; her grandchildren, Jeffrey and Ryan Lopatka, William Gallagher and his wife, Theresa, Kevin Gallagher, Jr., Phillip Kennedy and his wife, Anya, Matthew Kennedy, Leah Kennedy, and Jennifer and Joseph Tully; 4 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Family and friends will honor and remember Marge's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Sunday, November 20th from 2 to 6 p.m. and again at 8 a.m. on Monday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Mary's Church, 133 School Street, Waltham where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. Burial will be in Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne.
Memorials in her name may be made to The Friends of the Waltham Senior Citizens, c/o Eleanor Gibson, 9 Grosvenor Road, Waltham, 02453.
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