Ed Gallagher

If you were with Ed Gallagher, you were in for a good time. His sense of humor was legendary. He made everyone feel like they were included in the fun.

A retired federal law officer, the longtime pillar of the Philadelphia Irish community, member of Ancient Order of Hibernians Joseph E. Montgomery Division 65 in Upper Darby, and member of the executive committee of the Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Observance Association passed away January 2.

The Irish community will go on, and certainly the parade will go on, but Ed’s passing leaves a hole in peoples’ lives. We spoke to a few of Ed’s acquaintances from the parade committee, who shared their remembrances.

Walter Garvin, Jr.

Executive Committee

I knew him very well for the past say 15 years. And, omigod, yes, he was hysterical. He lit up a room—he was the life of the party. He was a guy who held nothing back. He would tell you what he was thinking, and make you enjoy it. He was a very people-loving person. He invariably included people that he never met before and treated them like they were very old friends.

He was a gentle man who loved people, and he loved his family. He saw the fun in everything. He was just a pleasure to be around and to be part of his life.

We recently had a meeting of the St. Patrick’s Day Observance Association. It was happy because we knew Ed, and sad because we weren’t going to be seeing him again.

At his viewing, I was with some of his cohorts, and everybody talked about what a good guy he was, and how much fun he was. He spread it around. He didn’t keep it to himself.

Michael Bradley

Parade Director and Past President

I’ve known him since 1990. The very first time I flew to Ireland, he was on the same trip I was on. He and his friend Jack McNamee. It was like a party in the plane. Everyone was singing.

Twenty years later, I got involved in the parade, and I ended up on the board with them. I hadn’t seen them (Gallagher and McNamee) them in 20 years, but they remembered the tip and they brought it to my attention. I didn’t remember.

He was a good guy. The only motion he would ever make was the motion to adjourn to the social hour.

I think he gave the air about himself that he really didn’t care about the board meeting—let’s go to the bar and get a drink. But he was really more complicated than that. He was getting out, and he was going to enjoy himself, but deep down to the core, he was one of the greatest guys I’ve ever met.

He really was devoted to his wife daughters and grandchildren. He was always talking about them. He was a real character. He’ll be missed, I guarantee you that. We’ll miss his humor desperately.

Kathy McGee Burns

Board Member, Recording Secretary and Past President

He was a very dapper gentleman. He wore a derby hat all the time, and he wore tweed jackets. He would always have a pocket handkerchief. He loved that feeling about himself, that style.

He always made the motion to adjourn. At the last meeting, we just suspended making the motion because it had been Ed’s for so long.

He and his wife Emily, who is the loveliest woman, attended every event the parade had. They always celebrated every event.

You could describe him as a hail fellow well met. James Joyce used that phrase in “Ulysses.” It means you behavior is hearty and congenial. I’d say that about Eddie Gallagher.