Dennis Gallagher

Dennis Gallagher

Dennis Gallagher, art director, music lover and pickleball player, died last year on March 19, 2020. It was his 69th birthday. He was an artist who loved typography and graphic design, continually advancing his skills to create and communicate. As CEO of Visual Strategies, he transitioned from print to web design and helped local and international companies, such as Google and Bechtel move from print to digital communications. His passion and his work were the same and he continued to design until the last month of his life.

A native Californian, Dennis grew up in Concord and graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 1974. He studied visual design with artist Tony Dubovsky and met his wife Ruth Hagopian in class. After graduating, he taught typography at UC Davis and worked for type designer Jim Parkinson, helping to create type fonts for Rolling Stone magazine, San Francisco Chronicle and other publications.

In 1978, he worked with art director John Sullivan to produce the desktop publishing system for the art department at the Chronicle. When John and his family moved to Paris, Dennis became the art director. In 1989, John and his wife Kina returned and joined Dennis and Ruth as partners in Visual Strategies, located in San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood. The design firm's publications included work for The New York Times, California Monthly and their own OnLine Design magazine on electronic design and graphics.

Finding inspiration in sights and sounds, Dennis like to travel and visited Trinidad, Europe and Mexico. His favorite cities were New York and Rome. Living in San Francisco, he loved the ability to see so many live concerts, plays and performances. Many of his favorite projects were album covers for numerous jazz musicians with Windham Hill Records, including his multiple albums for American jazz steel pannist Andy Narell.

Dennis was also a natural athlete and an enthusiast for new challenges. In his 30s, he enjoyed playing in the Chronicle's softball league and in his 40s, he discovered snowboarding. Always up for an adventure, he rode a vintage Vespa and a Honda Shadow motorcycle and in his 50s, was dedicated to mountain biking. Dennis biked at Moab, Utah; Whistler, British Columbia and completed the epic 100-mile Death Valley Century ride. In his 60s, he was a devout pickleball player, quickly improving and promoting the sport whenever he could.

Always an avid reader, Dennis could often be found with a current mystery, while listening to new music he'd found. He was also deeply interested in politics, art, movies and an expanding circle of friends. He treasured his friendships with grade school and college pals Tim Phipps and Lenny Gordon and looked forward to his monthly poker games in Chinatown with The Guys. He stayed in touch with his cousins, aunts and uncles and was close to Ruth's sisters Eva Long, Jan Nikitin and Tina Hagopian. His sister Pat Meers held a special place in his heart. She and brother-in-law Mike Meers and nieces Lauren and Carolyn Meers were always in his thoughts.

His family will always treasure his kindness, honesty, easygoing nature and his enduring sense of humor. Dennis brought levity into many situations with his playful mimicry and amusing expressions. He also used his artistic talents in the best way, creating graphic surprises and unique birthday cards for his family, his wife of 34 years and his beloved daughter Kathryn. They are grateful Dennis was home during his cancer treatments and hospice care. Thank you, Kaiser and Vitas Healthcare. Thank you, much loved and departed parents Woody and Isabel. Special thanks to the Meers family, Thom Jaquysh and to Tina Hagopian for the Helen Andrews Fund. If there are any remembrances of Dennis to share, please email dg@visdesign.com. Donations may be sent to the Southern Poverty Law Center.