Joseph Edward Gilligan Jr.

Relative and friends are invited to call at the FLECK FUNERAL HOME, Inc., 7601 Sandy Spring Rd, Laurel, MD 20707 on Thursday, December 16, 2-4 & 6-8pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, December 17, 11am at the St. Mary’s of the Mills Catholic Church, 114 St. Mary’s Place, Laurel, MD. Interment Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Silver Spring, MD.

Joseph E. Gilligan, Jr., a former senior executive at the National Security Agency, died at his home on Sunday, December 12th after a long illness. He was 75 years old.

Mr. Gilligan had a long and distinguished career at NSA, from 1960 through his retirement in 1997 from the Senior Executive Service. He received numerous awards, including the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal, the highest decoration awarded for service to the United States intelligence community, which was presented in 1995 by the Director of Central Intelligence.

He was born in Boston, MA in 1935. He grew up in West Newton, MA and graduated from Newton High School. He attended Boston College and graduated in 1959 with a degree in History. He served in the United States Army before coming to the NSA. He later earned a graduate degree from Georgetown University in History.

In 1964, he married Elisabeth von Kerczek. They settled in Laurel where they raised their children and were members of St. Mary’s Church. Though his great passion was his work at NSA, he also enjoyed gardening, travelling, and most of all, spending time with his family.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Elisabeth, and his three children Lisa Arbaugh, Joe Gilligan and Stephanie Ravel; a brother, Paul Gilligan; a sister, Jane Quinn; grandchildren Jonathan, Sarah and Thomas Arbaugh and Sean, Charlotte, Claire and Luke Ravel; and sons-in-law Jacques Ravel and William Arbaugh. He was predeceased by his brother, Stephen Gilligan, and his parents, Joseph and Margaret Gilligan.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to Johns Hopkins Children's Cancer Research Fund

100 North Charles Street, Suite 234, Baltimore, MD 21201 in memory of Joseph E. Gilligan, Jr.