Name: Celebration of Life for Thomas R. Gallagher
Start: 2022-04-24T19:00:00.000Z
Location: H.D Oliver Funeral Apartments, Inc. - Laskin Road Chapel

Thomas R. Gallagher, 74, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, April 19, 2022. Thom was a brilliant homebuilder and developer, having designed and built upwards of 3,000 homes in the Tidewater area, Williamsburg, and the Eastern Shore. Born in Pensacola, Florida, he was the son of the late USMC LTC B. Raymond Gallagher and Evelyn Wenger Gallagher.

Thom graduated from Cox High School where he lettered in five sports: baseball, football, wrestling, track and field, and basketball. In his senior year, Thom became Cox's first (technically, second) state champion wrestler. At the time of his passing, Thom was the longest living Cox state champion wrestler. Thom's unparalleled athletic abilities were recognized by coaches, teammates, and opponents alike. Thom attended Virginia Tech on a wrestling scholarship and earned a BS in Building Construction. During summers, he worked as a bouncer at The Tiki and lifeguard at the oceanfront surfing area.

Thom appreciated a New York strip cooked "medium plus" with a Coors Lightâ€"bottle, no glass. He loved to throw footballs, baseballs, parties, paper airplanes, knives, and spears (with his homemade atlatl). Of his world travels, Thom most enjoyed vacationing out West with his family and in Italy with his wife. His generosity, wit, and love will be missed by all who knew him.

Left to cherish Thom's memory are his beloved wife of 37 years, Nell Zoby Gallagher; daughters, Kelley Gallagher Austen of Harare, Zimbabwe and Skylar J. Gallagher of Raleigh, NC; son, John R. Gallagher (Rachel) of Richmond, VA; grandsons, Cole F. Austen and Owen Thomas Austen; brothers, Terry Gallagher (Sandra) of Virginia Beach, Lonnie Gallagher (Patricia) of Herndon, VA, Steven Gallagher (Vicki) of Suffolk, VA, and Todd Gallagher (Carol) of Virginia Beach; brother-in-law who he called his brother, Andrew T. Zoby, Jr. of Norfolk, VA; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

A memorial celebration of Thom's life will be conducted at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 24, 2022, in the Laskin Road Chapel of H. D. Oliver Funeral Apts., 2002 Laskin Rd., in Virginia Beach. Reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Peter Decker Children's Charity https://peterdeckercharity.com/ or American Forests https://give.americanforests.org/ways-to-give/donate-now/. Online condolences may be offered to the family at hdoliver.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Virginian-Pilot from Apr. 23 to Apr. 24, 2022.

Memories and Condolences
for Thomas Gallagher

Sponsored by the family.

7 Entries

Palmer

May 19, 2022

Thom was my friend & teammate. A competitor in sportsr and business, he was prepared with honest efforts. Virginia Beach, as a community, loses a heart with a benevolent generosity. I trusted Thom. I shall miss our greetings... always his wonderful smile....

Bruce W Whitaker

April 29, 2022

Thom was always a competitor who enjoyed competing against himself. That made him the force of nature that we all remember. That nature brought about excellence in his life's endeavors. I will remember him for his dynamic personality and his great friendship. He encouraged everyone he saw. I will surely miss you Thom.

Cathy Mullaney Barry

April 25, 2022

Nell and Skylar, I'm so sad to hear of Tom's passing, he was always so warm and welcoming when I visited. He will be missed and remembered for a long time

john crowling

April 23, 2022

With the passing of Thom, six members of the 1965 varsity wrestling team are now gone. (Thom, Ricky Meyers, Tommy Oberman , Lewis Mitchell, Curtis Jefferies, and Larry Royal. They are all missed by their loved ones, team mates and friends. Rest in peace my team mates.

Warren cavey

April 23, 2022

Thom was a fraternity brother of mine in our beloved APT fraternity. He was one of a special group of seniors when I got in as a freshman and was beloved by all including his best friends tom Pritchard and bill dozier. Him and those guys shaped my life forever and we all looked up to and admired him. I last saw him at our fraternity reunion in 08 and he was the same kind and unassuming guy that he was 40 years before. His band Happy was our house band and that´s what they made everybody, happy. Thom you will be missed by so many. Warren

Linda Fox-Jarvis

April 23, 2022

Dear Nell, I am so sorry to hear about Thom's passing. Please let us know if you need anything. "Say not in grief - he is no more - but in thankfulness that he was." Sending thoughts and prayers. Linda and David

john crowling

April 23, 2022

Thom and Ricky Meyers were Cox's two first wrestling champions. I wrestled with him at Cox. He was always a credit to our team with his hard work and leadership. He was well like where ever he went. He will be missed by many. Rest in peace old team mate.

Showing 1 - 7 of 7 results