Richard Bruce Gallagher was born in 1950 in Philadelphia, Pa. to Richard Foulkrod Gallagher and Billie Joan Featherstone Gallagher, lived his early years in the family home in Frankford, and started school at Frankford Friends School. He grew up in the Philly suburb of Huntingdon Valley, Montgomery County PA, and there he became the elder of three children, including his younger brother, Kevin, and sister, Lorraine.

At Abington High School he loved the studies of history and music, developed a muscular work ethic, and there he would be elected to the National Honor Society, would play trombone in the school’s orchestra, and with his father–also a trombonist–played in other local bands.  He also studied the trombone at the Settlement Music School of Philadelphia, played in the Brass Ensemble there under the direction of the Philadelphia Orchestra’s first trumpeter and renowned brass teacher, Sigmund Hering (1899-1986), and enjoyed visits to Philadelphia Orchestra concerts. Richard also worked during these summers as an x-ray department archivist at Jeanes Hospital, in Northeast Philadelphia. It is at that employment where, in 1972, he met the love of his life, Beth Lynne Dobbins, during his summer employment at Jeanes Hospital, where he worked as a courier and she as a lab technician student.

In 1968, he pursued his studies of history and pre-law at Lehigh University, where he found his love of historical writing and discovered his precision with the language; he played trombone in band concerts and marched with the “Men of the Lehigh Marching 97” in Taylor Stadium at football games.  He made a lot of friends at McConn House, a campus upper-class social residence where he lived, played golf and bowled for its intramural teams, and in 1972, graduated with History Department Honors and election to the Lehigh University Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.  

In 1972, he entered Cornell University Law School, He lived in the Law School Tower, and after his 1974 marriage to Beth, lived with her in their off campus apartment in Ithaca New York. In spring of 1975, he graduated with his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree, and the two of them moved to Bethlehem, PA where he practiced law, until, still feeling his love of both writing and law, they moved to Tampa, Florida where he worked as an editor for  Commerce Clearing House (CCH) in their law division.  He was transferred to Westfield, NJ in 1979.  In Westfield, they welcomed the birth of their son, Richard William Gallagher, in April 1980.  From there, he joined Lawyers Cooperative Publishing (LCP) in Rochester, NY.  After a short time, he was transferred to the Washington DC office, and joined the Research Institute of America (RIA.)  The family resided in Reston, Virginia, and his daughter, Emily Elizabeth Gallagher, was born there in March 1984.  In 1988, he made his final work transfer back to the Rochester, NY area, where he worked as a Senior Law Editor for what became Thompson West and then Thompson Reuters until his retirement in 2013.

In their new home in Penfield, NY, they continued to pursue their love of music.  Richard played trombone for many years in the Penfield Symphony Orchestra, and also spent a great deal of time  attending  concerts of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Richard and Beth were longtime members of St Paul's Episcopal Church, chosen in part because of their famous organ concerts which featured a large 1927 Skinner pipe organ, lovingly played by the world renowned musician, David Craighead. They also took in the many historical treasures of the Rochester region, walked along the Erie Canal and grew Rich’s beloved book and record collections.  Their home was full of fine cooking and loving care provided by Beth and the household was alive with intellectual curiosity, good company and laughter. 

Richard and Beth made their home in Penfield, NY, for 25 years, before relocating upon Rich’s retirement to Webster, NY, where Beth continued her employment at the Dr. Linda Rice’s primary care practice until her retirement in December 2018. 

Rich and Beth loved to travel, and made it a central part of their family life. Annually, they would curate an educational trip and visit many cities and national parks across the country. Their excursions included life changing visits to England, Scotland, Ireland, a Viking Cruise on the Rhine River, an Alaska Cruise, and Nova Scotia. 

Rich has always shared his loving kindness, witty humor, and zest for learning.  He has loved Beth, Rich and Emily, and the rest of us family, and he has been a kind caretaker for  dogs, King, Gretel, Molly, Barnaby, Dudley and Nellie. He had a wonderful appetite, with a love of Prime rib, Chicken Parmesan, Roast Beef, and dessert.  He shared the joys of friendship with many lifelong friends.  

We, his family, will miss him, will never forget him, and know in our hearts that he has carried his love and ours with him now into well deserved rest.

Richard is predeceased by his father, Richard F. Gallagher; his mother, Billie J.F. Gallagher; his father in law, William Dobbins; his mother in law, Doris Dobbins. 

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Beth;, his son, Richard W. (Jordan Ellen Burke); his daughter, the Honorable Emily Gallagher; his brother, Kevin (Karen);, his sister ,Lorraine (Ed McCorkle); and his nieces and nephews, Megan Williams (Patrick), Melanie (Jim Dion), Marie (Ian Chant), John Williams ,and Tim Gallagher; and beloved beagle, Nellie.

Donations can be made in his name to Lollypop Farm animal shelter.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, April 25, 10:00 a.m-12:00 p.m. at the Jennings, Nulton & Mattle Funeral Home, 1704 Penfield Road, Penfield, NY.