William B. Galligan

Born on June 2, 1942, in Brooklyn, New York, Bill was the eldest son of Frank (Francis) and Marie (née Coffey) Galligan. He grew up alongside his brothers Larry and Francis, taking his role as the oldest very seriously. At the age of 10, he began working as a newsboy on the streets of Brooklyn to help support his family. Bill was not shy nor sedentary about hard work.

From a young age, Bill developed a keen interest in trains that would eventually lead him to pursue a degree in economics that he earned from NYU and a masters in transportation from Northwestern.

Bill had a storied career in the railroad industry eventually led him to establish his own company, Inter-Rail which then helped launch his own transportation consulting company. He will be well remembered for his final work and dedication on East of Hudson Rail Freight Operations and Task Force overseeing critical rail projects in New York City.

His name and expertise in the transportation field has made lasting contributions to the growth and change in this industry still to this day.

Bill created a volunteer program to help tutor the underprivileged children of the west side of Chicago at the Marillac House.

It was in Evanston, Illinois, that Bill met Mary Anne whom he was married to for nearly fifty-six blessed years.

They met on the first Saturday in January of 1969 and they were married on December 27,1969 the last Saturday at Northwestern’s Shield Chapel.

In March 1971, they welcomed their only child a daughter Krista, who became the pride of Bill’s life.

Krista later married Kevin Lichterman, and together they gave Bill the joy of four grandchildren: Sammy, Alexis, Charlie, and Jess.

Bill always lit up when he got to see his grandchildren or call them to wish them a Happy Birthday or just talk to them wanting to know what was going on with their lives.

Although living in Ann Arbor since 1975, Bill always traveled to NYC for work and it was truly his home and he will always call himself a true New Yorker at heart.

Bill was proceeded in death by his parents Frank and Marie Galligan. His brother Francis Galligan. His niece Erin Galligan.

A special thank you to CorsoCare Hospice for the excellent care provided to my dad over the last nine months while in home hospice.

I would especially like to thank Kelly Duke, Bill Dalen and Connie Jones for their outstanding compassion they gave my dad each and every day that they took care of my dad.

One last act of kindness as Bill always loved helping people was his donation of his brain to the University of Michigans Brain Bank where his gift may help researchers help in the fight to find out causes and cures of neurologic diseases such as MS, Dementia, ALS and others. This is something he wanted to do and was able to do thanks to the doctors and staff at the Brain Bank at the University of Michigan.

Bill will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. His love for family, his dedication to his work, and his enduring connection to his roots will live on in the hearts of those who knew him.