Patrick Daniel Gallagher

On Friday May 12, Dan, as he was known to his family and friends, shuffled off this mortal coil at the age of 79 at Holy Family Hospital in Methuen, MA.  Dan was a caring soul who possessed an adventurer’s spirit, and his life’s travels reflect the energy and courage he brought to each day.

Dan was born and raised in the Gorbals area of Glasgow Scotland, a densely populated, poverty-stricken section of post WWII Europe – feel free to google it, he’ll have wanted you to know how tough it was, we’ll wait.  It was in his teenage years in Glasgow that he first met his future wife, and dominant Trivial Pursuit teammate of 54 years, Eileen, while they were students at Holyrood Secondary School.

He graduated with a degree from the Paisley College of Technology and worked in Scotland and then England before journeying to the United States in 1968 for better opportunities.  He and Eileen married April 12, 1969 in Wallington, NJ before settling in the Boston area.  They were longtime residents of North Andover, MA where they raised their kids Jackie and Dan (please note that Jackie is older, people keep forgetting that).  His career was as an engineer and then executive in the burgeoning semiconductor industry working at several companies including MACOM, Alpha and Skyworks.  A favorite quote from Dan in his work and personal life was, “if you’re going to do a job, you might as well do it right”.

Dan truly enjoyed life, always with a smile and a twinkle in his eye while looking for the next adventure.  He loved travel with a highlight being the cruise of the Greek Isles he and Eileen took in 1996, fine food, saying “I enjoy a drink, I just don’t like paying for it”, skiing down Bobby’s Run at Waterville Valley, Kmart blue light specials, Delray Beach Florida where he was known as “Mr. Social”, Celtic FC, going by himself to afternoon matinees where he would then sneak into a second movie for free, driving terrible cars including many Buicks but also his vintage 1973 Jag E-Type (yes, he was a conundrum), and in the Beatles vs Rolling Stones debate he was most certainly a Stones guy.  He vehemently disliked uppity restaurant Maître D’s.

Dan was an active, enthusiastic coach and cheerleader for his kids and their friends, and later his grandchildren.  He would remark that he truly enjoyed walking down the street and hearing someone call out to him using the affectionate moniker, “Hi Coach!”.

Dan is survived by his wife Eileen; his daughter Jackie Lessard and husband Derek of Haverhill, MA, his son Dan Gallagher and wife Katie of Boxford, MA; his grandchildren Patrick, Keira, Ryan and Caydan; his brother Owen Gallagher and wife Heather of Jersey, UK, his sister Kathleen McMahon and husband John of Colwyn Bay, Wales, his sisters-in-law Maureen Young of Cumbernauld Scotland and Kathleen Watt and her husband David of Glasgow Scotland; and several nieces, nephews as well as countless friends both foreign and domestic.  Dan was predeceased by his brother-in-law Jack Young who we’re certain he has already met up with for continued hijinks.

Thanks Dad, you truly did the job right, you’ll be dearly missed and live on in our memories.

Private services will be held for the family.  In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made in Dan’s name to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, www.dana-farber.org. Arrangements by Driscoll Funeral Home, Haverhill. For guestbook, visit www.driscollcares.com

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