Edward J. Gallagher, MD, age 84, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Saturday, June 15, 2019, at his home in Wrightwood, California. He was born in Fullerton, California, on June 27, 1934, the eldest of four children born to Stephen and Geraldine Gallagher. They grew up primarily in Anaheim when Orange County was full of orange groves. He was an avid learner, beginning with a B.S. in Liberal Arts at Loyola University in Los Angeles (1956), followed by his M.D. at Marquette University School of Medicine, Milwaukee (1960), where he met his future wife and then nurse, Phyllis. They married and eventually moved to Fullerton, where they raised their family of five children. Edward had a thriving practice in Placentia called Placentia Linda Pediatrics and then shifted gears to continue his education with an M.A. in Public Health at Loma Linda University (1981), followed by an M.A. in Management at Claremont Graduate School (1987). He went on to become the Director of the Riverside County Department of Public Health. He rounded out his education with an M.A. in Bioethics at the Medical College of Wisconsin (2005). He and Phyllis fell in love with the mountain hamlet of Wrightwood, first as weekenders and then moved there full time in the mid-1980s. Although he was a very accomplished man, the roles that brought him the most joy were as a loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle, cousin, brother-in-law, friend, musician and photographer. He always said his wife, Phyllis, was his greatest asset and ally.
Edward is survived by his wife of 59 years, Phyllis (Née Cooper), his five children, Ellen Golden, Laura Gallagher Lopez (Marty), Ann Gallagher-White (Steve), Patrick (Almara) and Paul (Katarina), his grandchildren, Bradley (Melody), Kelly, Isabella, Annissa, Emma, Hannah, Madeleine, Sylvia and Benjamin, and one great-grandaughter on the way, his brother, John Gallagher, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.
He was a devout Catholic and took great comfort in his faith knowing that he would enter eternal life and be reunited with God the Creator and his Savior, Jesus Christ. He will be dearly missed by his family and friends. A rosary will take place at 9:30 a.m. with a funeral mass immediately after at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church in Wrightwood on June 27, 2019, followed by a reception. A private family burial will take place at St. Andrews Abbey in Valyermo on June 28, 2019. In lieu of flowers, kindly make a donation to his favorite charity of St. Labre Indian School in Montana (www.stlabre.org). Visit Joshua Mortuary of Palmdale to leave on-line condolences. ([email protected]).
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