Terry Gallagher

1940 - 2015

(News article) Terry Gallagher, a former area businessman who at one time owned four Toledo hotels, including the historic downtown Willard Hotel, died Saturday in his home in Detroit. He was 75,

Mr. Gallagher, who moved to Detroit from Tarpon Springs, Fla., about a year ago, died in his sleep, said his son, Tim Gallagher. He said he didn't know the cause of death. He said his father underwent open heart surgery about 18 months ago.

Mr. Gallagher began his business career as an insurance agent and real estate investor in the 1960s.

He and his brother, Charles Gallagher, acquired duplexes and other rental properties in the Old West End, and together owned as many as 50 properties, Mr. Gallagher said.

In 1972, he purchased the Willard Hotel complex on North St. Clair Street, which included the Valentine Theatre. The historic four-story building at North St. Clair and Adams streets was renamed the Renaissance Hotel and was renovated to house the studios of Channel 30 WGTE-TV and the Press Club of Toledo opened in the building's basement.

About a year later, he bought the Globe Motel, on Jefferson Street, which he renamed the Glass City Inn. He also took over the Town House Motel at West Bancroft and Monroe streets, renaming the property the University Inn.

He later acquired the former Riverview Inn at Jefferson Avenue and Summit Street.

He was a past president of the Old West End Association and he pushed for redevelopment of the city's downtown business district. In 1973, he was among a group that urged downtown customers of the Toledo Edison Co. steam plant buy to take over operations and operate it themselves.

Carty Finkbeiner, a former Toledo mayor and councilman, said Mr. Gallagher was a promoter of the downtown business district and supported urban residential living long before it became vogue.

"Terry was a very, very enthusiastic cheerleader for the central business district and the near downtown neighborhoods, including the Old West End," he said.

He was born on Feb. 7, 1940, to Dorothy and Francis J. Gallagher. His father was a lawyer and partner in the law firm Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick.

He attended Rosary Cathedral grade school and Central Catholic High School for his freshman year. However, he transferred to St. Francis de Sales, where he was a fullback on the school's football team.

He was president of the high school's first graduating class in 1958. He received a degree in marketing from John Carroll University in 1962.

The Rev. Anthony Gallagher, a retired Catholic priest, said his brother was creative, hardworking, and industrious as a boy growing up in the Old West End.

"He was the only one in the family to have a paper route," he said. "He got more popular as he grew older. He seemed to be a natural leader."

He married the former Nancy Virginia Bailey on June 20, 1964. They divorced in 1976.

Surviving are his sons, Patrick and Tim; daughters, Elizabeth Higgins and Anne Horan; brothers, Father Anthony, Charles, Michael, Kevin Gallagher; sister, Loretta "Sis" Wenger, and 11 grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday in the Walker Funeral Home, 5155 Sylvania Ave., where a vigil service will be held at 7:45 p.m.

Prayers will begin at 9:45 a.m. Thursday in the funeral home followed by the funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. in Gesu Church.

The family suggests tributes to St. Francis de Sales High School.

This is a news story written by Blade Staff Writer Mark Reiter. Contact him at: markreiter@theblade.com or 419-724-6199.