John Patrick Galligan

John Patrick Galligan died November 2 at Laurel Ridge Healthcare, he was 79 years old. John was born in New York City on February 22, 1931, the son of Mary Fox Galligan and Michael Galligan. He married Dorothy Cooney in New York City in1951. Mr. Galligan grew up in the Bronx and graduated from Cardinal Hayes High School. He served in the United States Marine Corps as an aircraft mechanic during the Korean War. Mr. Galligan worked for the railroad for 45 years; he was known to his coworkers as "Joey." He worked for Penn Central and New Haven Railroad in the Stamford, CT railroad yard and was a delegate and local chairman of the United Transportation Union. He was a conductor for Metro North and ran the commuter trains out of Danbury and Brewster into Grand Central Station. Mr. Galligan moved to Ridgefield in 1962. He was a self taught craftsman, mechanic and landscaper. He enjoyed building projects around his home and constructing stonewalls on his property. He was always willing to lend a hand whenever someone was in need. He was an avid reader and enjoyed working the NY Times crossword puzzle. He was a member of St. Mary's Church and participated in the Marriage Encounter Program as well as serving as a Eucharistic Minister. Mr. Galligan served as an election official for the town of Ridgefield. He is survived by his wife of 59 years Dorothy Galligan; his son, Michael Galligan and wife Nancy of Wylie, TX; his daughters: Dorothy Doty and husband William of Ridgefield; Mary Feneley and husband Craig of Oak Hill, VA; Bernadette Haight of Brentwood, TN; his daughter-in-law, Stacy Galligan of New Milford; and ten grandchildren: Shannon Galligan of Wylie, TX; Thomas and Patrick Doty of Ridgefield; John Bryant, Jennafer and Erin Galligan of New Milford; Michael and Jack Feneley of Oak Hill, VA; Kelsey and Alden Haight of Brentwood, TN; his sister, Kay McGrath of Huntington, NY. He was predeceased by his son John Patrick Galligan, Jr., in June 2006 as well as two of his sisters, Eileen Ahr and Mary Walsh. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, November 6, at 10:15 a.m. at St. Mary Church in Ridgefield. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Kane Funeral Home, 25 Catoonah Street, Ridgefield on Friday, November 5, from 5 to 8 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association at alz.org.