Kevin Thomas Galligan

Kevin Thomas Galligan, 70, beloved son of the late James Lawrence and Mary Frances Brennan Galligan of Ireland, died unexpectedly at home on August 7, 2022 after living remarkably well with cancer for ten years. The family thanks the tireless efforts of the Fox Chase Cancer Center, Duke University Medical Center and New Hanover Regional Health.

Kevin was born on July 8, 1952 in Elizabeth, NJ and raised in Cranford. He attended Saint Anne’s Parochial School in Garwood and Orange Avenue School, before graduating from Cranford High School in 1970. He was a perpetually hard-working man, at work and at home, having obtained his first job at 14 years old at a dry cleaner and later working for his father at the Westfield Centre Service on Elm Street in Westfield.

He was the first of his family to graduate college, having earned a Bachelor’s degree in business and finance from Monmouth College in 1974.

He began his professional life with the Connell Rice and Sugar Corporation in Westfield. He then moved into shipping and logistics with the Army Corps of Engineers where he discovered his passion: international logistics. He spent the next four decades building his legacy as the Executive Vice President and a Licensed Customs Broker with D.F. Young, Inc. of Berwyn, PA (formerly Battery Park, NYC). His work took him around the world with consistent stops in Europe, the Middle East and Nepal. Throughout a long career, his global professional connections became close personal friends and an extension of his family. 

Kevin met his future wife Carolyn Bailey Wilcox, of Berlin, CT, on St. Patrick’s Day 1985 in New York City, and they married a year later. Together they raised their family in Westfield where they happily resided for the next thirty years and formed lifelong friendships with many in the Shackamaxon neighborhood. In 2016, Kevin and Carolyn moved full-time to Wilmington, NC where they had already established a secondary foundation for their next phase of life. It was by the beach where Kevin was happiest.

Kevin was predeceased by their first daughter Erin Bailey, his parents James and Mary Galligan, and his brother James “Jimmy” Galligan of Cranford.

Kevin is survived by his wife Carolyn of 36 years, son J. Brendan Galligan of Westfield, and daughter Annie Galligan of Jersey City. He is also survived by four sisters: Maureen Cunningham (John) of Gardiner, NY; Eileen Friberger (Bruce) of Callicoon, NY; Sharon Dearness (late, George) of Callicoon, NY; and Patricia Pelly of Susquehanna, PA. He is also survived by a loving extended family, including his 90-year-old mother-in-law Mary Louise Wilcox along with several cousins, in-laws and ten nieces and nephews.

Kevin had many interests throughout his life. In his younger years, he liked working on cars with friends and taking Leber’s Blue Bus to concerts and races with “The Dead-End Gang.” He also frequented the Fillmore East and McSorley’s Ale House in the East Village. Throughout his life, he was most relaxed at the Jersey Shore and surfing on summer days. Thanksgiving was a big tradition in the family’s Westfield home where he loved carving the turkey. Kevin found joy in taking his classic red Mercedes convertible for a ride on Sunday afternoons and going to many memorable Yankee games with Frank. He took pride in being a fixer of all things around the house. Kevin proudly served as a volunteer during camping trips to Canada with Brendan’s Boy Scout Troop 72 of the Presbyterian Church in Westfield, and guided Annie in how to navigate the world of travel and business. In recent years, his family and close friends took several special trips together all over the world. Most recently, he celebrated his 70th birthday in Killarney, Ireland which he considered Heaven on Earth.

Services will be held at St. Helen’s Parish, 1600 Rahway Ave., Westfield, on Friday, August 19th at 11AM. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Westfield. Arrangements are by the Dooley Colonial Home of Westfield. For those who wish donate, Kevin was an active supporter of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation and Autism Speaks, NJ.

Share online condolences with the family, here, in the guestbook.