Guy Robert Gallagher

Presque Isle - Guy Robert Gallagher, 86, of Presque Isle, Maine, passed away in the early morning hours of Monday, Feb 9, 2026, finally at rest. He was able to remain at home in the company of his family and his dog companion, Willow, until his final day, when he was carefully taken into the skilled care of the Aroostook House of Comfort. There the staff was able to settle him peacefully and comfortably, allowing him to make his quiet exit.

Guy was born on March 15, 1939, in Presque Isle, to Mary Alice (Campbell) and John Guy Gallagher, both born in New Brunswick, Canada. His birthdate echoes his later interest in classical studies, as it falls upon the Ides of March.

He was a lifetime student, and his enjoyment of teaching was a constant, right up until the end. While French was his favorite language, he also delighted in teaching Latin and philosophy at both college and high school levels, and to SAGE students at UMPI.

Those who knew Guy learned to expect the unexpected in conversations, as Guy was guaranteed to find a way to make a pun or a joke out of almost anything, usually when least expected.

His other language pursuit was music, and after spending years regaling local audiences in the company of his Gallagher Brothers, he went on to play fiddle with the Wednesday Evening Fiddlers of New Brunswick, continuing this with enthusiasm until the month before his death.

Guy grew up in Presque Isle with his large Irish family during the time they ran the Town Farm. He graduated as an Honor Student from Fort Fairfield High School in 1957, and received a B.A. cum laude in 1961 from St. Mary's University in Nova Scotia. He taught French at Presque Isle High School, and the State University College in Oneonta, NY. In 1966 he received a Rotary Foundation Fellowship which allowed him to study at the Université de Montpellier in France.

By 1967 he was back in the U.S. to begin his lifetime career of teaching French at the University of Maine in Presque Isle, (then known as Aroostook State College). Following this he received his Masters in French from Université Laval in Québec in 1968. He would later return to Laval on sabbatical, bringing his family with him to live in Montréal together temporarily, a once-in-a-lifetime immersive experience for all of them.

In 1969 he married his wife Patty (Patricia Anne Coffin). In 1974 she gave birth to their only child, Tristan Alain Gallagher. Guy continued to further his education in 1979 when he returned to Laval for his Ph.D. in French Literature.

In 1997 he added instruction in Latin at the Maine School of Science and Mathematics (Limestone) to his UMPI courseload for a few years. He supposedly retired from UMPI in 2002, but continued to find ways to stay involved with the campus and its community as a teacher and retiree even into 2025, when he began to quickly lose ground to Alzheimers.

This February marks the 11th anniversary of Patty's death in 2015, a loss we all still feel keenly.

Guy is survived by his son Tristan and daughter-in-law Michelle Souliere, both of Portland, Maine, his sole remaining sibling, sister Mary Schneider, countless Gallagher cousins, nieces and nephews, and now their children too.

Guy was predeceased by his parents; and his brothers, Lloyd, John, J. Patrick, Ralph, Donald, Gerald, and sister Theresa.

Heartfelt thanks goes to niece Elaine Gallagher Sipe and husband Brian for helping to make Guy's homecare possible in the past year, as well as to Guy's sister Mary, for her constant companionship. Guy's life was made incomparably brighter by friendship and rides to fiddling from Bruce Alexander, and warm conversations with friends Ted and Sarah Shields over the phone.

Tremendous thanks to the folks at the Aroostook Agency on Aging and Susan Boyd in particular, for cheerfully coordinating Alzheimers assistance and homecare, even though Guy remained politely unconvinced that he ever needed any help.

We would also like to express our deep gratitude to the homecare and hospice nursing staff at Northern Light and AR Gould Hospital. You folks accomplished the seemingly impossible, done in good spirits and with an air of respect paired with everyday compassion and friendliness which allowed Guy to think that his life was going on the same as it ever was, albeit with some unavoidable and well-meaning annoyances.

Last but not least, we thank the Aroostook House of Comfort for giving Guy the space, peace, comfort and care to allow him to let go when he was finally ready to do so.