John P. "Jack" Gallagher

John P. "Jack" Gallagher

AGE: 79 • Lincroft

John P. "Jack" Gallagher, 79, of Lincroft, NJ, passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 13 at his home while surrounded by his family and friends after a long, courageous battle with illness. He was born in Kenilworth and lived in Piscataway before moving to Middletown. After graduating high school Jack enlisted in the United States Army where he served in Washington, DC during the Korean War. John began his political career as a member of the New Jersey Constitutional Convention in 1966. He then was the Chairman and Executive Director of the Garden State Parkway and the Garden State Arts Center from 1970 to 1976. John was then elected to the New Jersey State Senate where he served from 1982 through 1984. John then worked for Ryan Beck, now Stifel Nicolaus & Co., until he retired in 2004. Jack had many loves in his life, was an avid golfer and Pittsburgh Steelers fan, but his greatest love was his family. Jack is survived by his wife, friend, and soul mate of 34 years, Carol Gallagher. Jack leaves behind his sister Kay Brearton, of Troy, NY; his brother Edward Gallagher and his wife Edith of Seaside Park, NJ; brother in-law Arthur Kastner and his wife of Waretown, NJ and many nieces and nephews. John is also survived by his children, Donna Gallagher, Piscataway, NJ; Linda Carragher and her husband James, Brick, NJ; John Gallagher, Jr. and his wife Karen, Tennessee; Charles Gallagher, Old Bridge, NJ; Patrick Gallagher and his wife Rita, East Brunswick, NJ; William J. Fread, Jr., New York; Donna Mellon, Monroe, NJ; Gary Fread and his wife Judy, Howell, NJ; and Wayne Fread and his wife Brooke, Manalapan, NJ. Jack is also survived by his precious grandchildren Maria Gallagher, Connor Gallagher, Caitlin Carragher, Devlin Carragher, John Gallagher III, Matthew Gallagher, William Gallagher, Wayne Davison, William Fread III, Maggy Fread, Mackensy Fread, Hannah Fread, Dylan Fread and great-grandchildren Madison Gallagher, Alyssa Davidson, and Madison Davidson.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Patrick Aloysius Gallagher and Genevieve McCarthy; his brother, Peter McCarthy; his sisters, Eileen Hogan, Teresa Scheidegger, and Anne O'Shea; and his grandson, Adam Davison.

Visitation will be held on Monday, October 17, 2011 from 2 to 4 pm and from 7 to 9 pm at John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, 115 Tindall Road, Middletown. Funeral services are scheduled for Tuesday, October 18 at 9:00 am at the funeral home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered Tuesday, October 18 at 10 am at St. James RC Church, Broad St., Red Bank, NJ. Entombment will follow at Holmdel Mausoleum, Holmdel.

In Lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Wounded Warriors Project, 370 7th Avenue, 3rd Floor, Room 320, New York City, NY 10001 or to the American Diabetes Association, 1701 North Beauregard Street Alexandria, VA 22311. For more information, to send condolences or for directions, please visit www.pflegerfh.com.