John George Gallagher

On December 19, 2024, surrounded by his family. John George Gallagher, 89, passed away-and directly, we are certain, into the loving, heavenly arms of his beloved wife, Anne, and daughter, Rebecca.

Born May 15, 1935, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Edward Francis Gallagher and Mary Helen (Clifford) Gallagher, John moved with his parents to Washington, D.C., in 1936. Thereafter, the D.C. area remained his home for the entirety of his long life.

A quiet, inquisitive boy, John was inclined toward observing the physical nature of the world, intensely interested in the mechanics of things. This early, fundamental fascination with
understanding how things work informed his chosen course of study (Physics and Engineering) at Georgetown University and Catholic University and led him to a 35-year career as an Electrical Engineer supporting the Federal Government as a defense contractor. Beyond his studies and career, however, his passion for learning, for understanding, and for sharing his knowledge served as the foundation for everything he was and everything he did—and everything he encouraged his children to be.

John met his beloved wife, Anne Baroody, at a youth group dance when she was a student at St.
Mary’s Academy in Alexandria, Virginia, and he was a student at Gonzaga College High School in D.C. As the story goes, he was the boy tinkering behind the broken juke box, trying to get the music to resume. She was the girl who decided to keep him company. The rest, as they say, is history — and what a history it has been. After high school, both attended college, and sometimes spent summers at Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire, working at Anne’s Uncle Charlie’s Howard Johnson’s restaurant. John and Anne married on September 12, 1959, growing their family quickly with five girls and one boy from 1960 to 1966, and adding two more daughters (twins) in 1976. Despite traveling extensively for work during much of the 1960s and 70s, John was an active, engaged, and devoted father, guiding, nurturing, teaching, and loving his large family.

A man of great faith — to his God, to his wife, to his children, and to himself — John was equally devoted to his church. Raised in the Roman Catholic tradition, he converted to the Melkite Greek Catholic Church and became a founding member of Holy Transfiguration Church in McLean, Virginia, in 1971. Among a multitude of other contributions to the Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Newton and Holy Transfiguration Church, John and Anne together were the force behind and architects of the eparchy’s Religious Education Program.

John was a brilliant man, though at the same time, he was not unaware of his own limits and
shortcomings. Famous for (almost!) always knowing the answer to any question, he wasn’t afraid to say, “I don’t know” on those rare occasions when he did not, but was always quick to add “but I will find out”. And he always did! He taught his children to question everything. Learning, exploring, uncovering your own answers, he said, is what creates thinkers. It is the thing, he said, that validates your claim to your own knowledge.

John was a quiet man. He was a gentle man. He was a funny man. And he was silly sometimes, too. He loved a smart, dry joke or a sly story, would absolutely vibrate with laughter, and could set the whole world alight with the joy that glistened in his shining blue eyes.

Most of all, John Gallagher was a good man, honest and loving and real, who took no greater pleasure than in simply being surrounded by fruits of his love.

Preceded in death by his wife, Anne, and daughter, Rebecca (Brian) Featheringham, John is survived by seven of his children: Catherine (David) Moskowitz, Anne Miriam (Phil) Benedicto, Terry (Jen) Gallagher, John Joseph (Cristal) Gallagher, Judith (Paul) Cummings, Elizabeth (Ian) Lane, and Adele Gallagher. He is also survived by grandchildren Leah (Andrew) Wax, William (Elizabeth) Moskowitz, Anthony (Kelly) Benedicto, Joshua (Karima) Moskowitz, Molly (Morgan) Robin, Mathew (Tiffaney) Cummings, Stephen (Mark) Benedicto, Alex (Tiffani) Cummings, Haley (Josh) Blackwood, Sarah (Sachin) Ledbetter, Isabelle (Colin) Gallagher, Madison Brown, Gabriel (Stephanie) Gallagher, Alan- Michael Lane and Brody Lane, as well as greatgrandchildren Alice, Kai, Richie, Andy Jr., Addison, Jaxon, Charlotte, Nadir, Samir, Elysia, Finnley, Riley, Jacob, Sadie, Noah, Caiden, Skyler, James, Christian, Chloe, Jordan, Marley and Justin. In addition, he also leaves behind his sister, Mary (TomBrown, a very large and loving extended family that includes dozens of nieces and nephews, and many, many dear friends, and devoted caregivers.

Friday, December 27, 2024
Holy Transfiguration Greek Catholic Church
8501 Lewinsville Rd, McLean, VA 22102.
Viewing 10-11am | Funeral 11am | Mercy Meal 12pm

Saturday, December 28, 2024
Interment: 1pm
Fairfax Memorial Park
9900 Braddock Rd, Fairfax, VA 22032

Please join the family for an informal gathering immediately following the interment at 10016 Cavalry Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030 (Terry & Jen’s)