John F. Gallagher III

John Gallagher, 59, of Hillside New Jersey, passed away on December 31st, 2025.
To those who knew him, John was at the center of the laughter, the life of the party, the guy who never let a moment go too quiet, and the guy whose heart was as big as his personality. He was the kind of person everyone felt like they already knew, even if they were only meeting him for the first time. His passing was unexpected, and the shock of his loss is felt deeply by all who loved him.
John loved spending time with his family and friends, making sure all gatherings and events were accompanied by jokes, reminiscing, and plenty of laughs. John loved his siblings deeply and cherished the bond they shared. He found joy in attending his nieces' and nephew's events and made sure that he was their biggest (and loudest) cheerleader, even occasionally earning a polite escort out of baseball and basketball games. He had a gift for making connections, and at every family event, he made sure the kids' friends felt like part of the family too; he became everyone's "Uncle John."
John was an avid sports fan, and he shared his passion for the Kansas City Chiefs, New York Rangers, and New York Yankees with anyone and everyone. There isn't a rock song that he didn't know, and he believed that everyday could use a good guitar riff.
John is survived by his stepfather, John DeLouisa; older siblings, Keith (wife Zenya), Kim (husband Steve), and Guy; his nephew Stephen (wife Dara), nieces April and Zenya, great nieces Callie and Cora, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his mother, Patty Ann DeLouisa.
John will be remembered for his kindness, humor, larger than life personality, and his signature line, "it's all good," reminding us that life, and even what comes after, is best enjoyed with humor and heart.
Family and friends are welcome to attend a visitation on January 8th, 2026, from 1:00pm to 4:00pm at Legacy Growney Funeral Home in Hillside NJ.