Harry Stewart Gallacher

Harry Stewart Gallacher was a modest man, quiet and observant in his ways. He was trustworthy and traditional in his approach to his life and in his relationships. He was tough-minded with the kind of “stick to it” attitude that earned the respect of all who knew him. He was also a man who was meticulous, carefully disciplined, and orderly in virtually everything he undertook. Realistic about life, he was always at the ready, prepared to take on responsibility.

      Harry was born on February 25, 1925 in Kirkconnell, Scotland. His parents were John and Elizabeth (Bessie) Gallacher, he was raised in Girvan, Scotland. He was brought up to be self-confident and dependable. These were traits that would serve him well throughout his life.

      Growing up in the Gallacher household was a bit different than most homes. There were good times to be had, but just as often there was a fair share of challenges as well. However, Harry was able to work through the usual family problems when they appeared, and he was the one person in the family who seemed able to keep the stress at bay. Harry was raised with eight siblings. He had older brothers John, Dan and Willie and younger siblings Betty, Mary, Alec, Daniel and Jean. Harry was constantly involved in activities with his brothers and sisters. Harry and his siblings may have had the typical rivalries while growing up but Harry was always consistently loyal to his family.

      As a young child, Harry was never someone who needed to be the center of attention. He wasn’t pushy and never forced his way into games or other activities. Harry developed a variety of interests, though, and the things he enjoyed doing he did well. He was always curious about the world around him and was often eager to explore it. Harry took part in in football (Soccer). In his spare time he liked to hike and camp. However, what Harry enjoyed most was simply playing and spending time with his many friends.

      While his teachers and even his friends generally thought of Harry as being a serious person, he managed to have a pretty good time in school. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favourite classes and teachers. The teacher he enjoyed learning from the most was Sister Aquinas (Queenie).

      Always considered to be a solid friend, Harry was fortunate to have numerous acquaintances and several very close friends during his life. Since he disliked making generalizations about people and preferred to draw his own conclusions based on direct observation, Harry was able to see beneath the surface of relationships and became a true friend to those who knew him. He was committed to his friends and valued the trust he placed in them. It was not uncommon for Harry to go beyond the call of duty for others, and friends frequently sought him out for advice because he had a knack for coming up with practical solutions to any type of dilemma. While growing up, some of his best friends were Archie Davidson, Henry Lafferty and Tom Gill. Later in life, he became friends with Ernie Sombach, Roy Dawson, Freda & Wilf Dooner, Jimmie Brogan, Don Barrett Sr. and Tom Clarkson.

      On October 22, 1966 Harry exchanged wedding vows with Donna Ouellette at the St. Maria Goretti Church in Scarborough, Ontario. Compassionate and devoted to Donna, Harry held endearing, traditional values about marriage and family life. He took the responsibility of marriage to heart, giving it his total commitment. He was a source of strength to Donna and using his gifts at nurturing one-on-one relationships, he worked hard to make his new family happy.

      Harry brought the same traditional values in his marriage to bear on how he raised his children. He was a good parent to them, always firm yet fair in his dealings. He would always listen carefully and think things through before he acted, even when it was an adverse situation. Harry always seeming to know what everyone in the family needed to do, where they needed to be and when they needed to be there. Harry was blessed with two children, daughter Michelle and son Stewart. He was also blessed with three grandchildren, Colin, Shauna and Alexander, and six great grandchildren Aurelia, Abigail, Avery, Corrina, Nolan and Loïc.

      Harry was a hard worker who expected the same in return from his co-workers. His primary occupation was as a driver for the TTC and he was employed with them for 32 years.

      Harry was in the British Navy, mostly Atlantic Theater of Operations from Aug 1943 - Dec 1947 in Germany and Landings at Normandy (France). Harry saw action for WWII. Through his hard work and dedication, he achieved the rank of Seaman/Stoker 1st class. He received praise for his valor, including being awarded the War Medal, Atlantic Star (with Germany & France Bar), Pacific Star, Victory Medal 1939-1945 /star, and Defense Medal. A literal thinker who possessed a calm exterior, Harry seemed to enjoy the routines set forth by the military. His results-oriented approach to things made him committed to the job, and he understood well his role in serving his country.

      Harry liked to experience things first-hand as well as learn about them. This trait carried over into his hobbies, where he was very methodical in how he organized his activities and categorized things. Since he enjoyed his private time, Harry always tried to allocate a specific time for working on his hobbies. His favourite pursuits were golf and gardening.

      Harry found pleasure in sports. Being a person who was comfortable making win/lose decisions throughout life, he could appreciate that athletes made those types of decisions in sports. He applauded those who won, and he enjoyed the statistical data and sports facts and could find himself wrapped up in those details. Recreational sports included bowling and golf. He would watch his favourite sporting events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were hockey and golf.

      Many organizations were grateful to have Harry as a member, since he always brought with him a “stick to it” attitude and a high degree of common sense. Using straightforward methods to successfully complete the job, Harry was a great planner who was incredibly well organized. He always seemed to know exactly what needed to be done. Throughout his later years, Harry was an active member of the Legion.

      Harry was a man who was dedicated and devoted to his faith. He was a member St. Bartholomew's Church for 32 years and then Holy Family Parish for 23 years. During that time, he was an usher. He was a sympathetic man who valued his beliefs and was willing to work tirelessly for them.

      Harry enjoyed travelling and taking vacations. Since he was an early starter and had a knack for planning everything, travelling with Harry appeared effortless. He enjoyed researching all of his examined options and applying cost-effective planning techniques. Plus, no matter where he traveled, Harry always had a back up plan at the ready, just in case. Favourite vacations included golf holidays and he loved his trip to Newfoundland.

      Harry was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. One of Harry’s favourites was his family dog, Roy. They were best friends for many years.

      When Harry’s retirement finally arrived in 1988, he was well prepared. He always trusted and placed value in what was logical and in the things he knew, so he was very confident in planning his retirement. He had begun the process early and had his retirement all laid out well in advance. In retirement, he found new pleasure in golfing, gardening, participating in his grandchildren's activities. Even in retirement, Harry continued to stay in touch with his old friends while making plenty of new acquaintances. He was active in his new community and felt fulfilled.

      Harry Stewart Gallacher passed away from congestive heart failure on January 16, 2023 at Lakeridge Health in Oshawa, Ontario. He is survived by two sisters, his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Services were held at Holy Family Catholic Church. Harry was laid to rest in Resurrection Cemetery in Whitby, Ontario.

      Commitment is a key word that can be used to describe the life of Harry Stewart Gallacher. He was committed to living the life of a good man who was both practical and trustworthy. He was committed to the traditional values that he upheld his entire life. He committed himself to being a hard worker who expected the same effort in return from those around him. Most of all, he was committed to those he knew and loved.

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GALLACHER, Harry Stewart

(WWII Veteran, Member of the Royal Canadian Legion BR. 112)

Peacefully, with his family by his side, at Lakeridge Health Oshawa on Monday, January 16th, 2023, just shy of his 98th birthday. Beloved husband of the late Donna. Loving father of Michelle (Don), and Stewart (Debbie). Cherished Papa of Colin (Liz), Shauna (Mike), Alexander (Abby) and Wee Papa of Aurelia, Abigail, Avery, Corrina, Nolan and Loïc. Dear brother of Mary and Jean. Harry will be fondly remembered by his extended family and many friends. Visitation will be held at the OSHAWA FUNERAL HOME, 847 King Street West (905-721-1234) on Sunday, January 22 from 2 – 4 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held from HOLY FAMILY PARISH (91 Ribblesdale Dr., Whitby) on Monday, January 23rd at 10:30 a.m. Entombment Resurrection Cemetery. Memorial donations to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 112 or the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 112 - Poppy Fund (cheques only please) or the Canadian Cancer Society would be appreciated. Online condolences may be made at www.oshawafuneralhome.com