William James Gallagher

Obituary For William James Gallagher

William James Gallagher passed peacefully on Sunday, June 21st, 2026 - Father’s Day. Bill, as he was known to all, was born in Danbury, Connecticut on January 24th, 1940, to parents Marjorie and William. He grew up in the town of Brewster, New York. Bill would go on to become the first in his family to graduate high school and attend college. Various summer jobs during his college years included a copy boy for the New York World and Sun and a seaman on an oil freighter during the Cuban missile crisis. He graduated from Cornell University in 1962 as a proud member of Kappa Alpha Society with his degree in Philosophy. After college he sought a job at Pan American Airlines at JFK Airport. It was at Pan Am that he met Joan Callan when she came to work in his office. Fresh out of secretarial school who is to say if her looks or her organizational skills impressed him more? He scored a win in both columns when they tied the knot and welcomed their first daughter, Kelly Ann, soon after. Their first home, on Long Island, welcomed their second and third daughters, Carrie Ann and Colleen Ann (don’t all sisters share the same middle name? the girls would later wonder). Living close to Joan’s family they spent summers on her parents’ boat where Enos Callan, his father-in-law, would pour Bill stiff Rob Roy drinks saying, “you can’t fly on one wing” (an airline joke?). Bill’s aviation career spanned 34 years, with assignments in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, and Washington DC. He retired as Delta’s station manager at Reagan National Airport.

In retirement, his love of aviation led him to become a docent at the Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum located near Dulles Airport. A life-long learner, Bill used his retirement to pursue careers that followed his passion: a certificate in historical preservation and learning to frame artwork was followed by becoming a certified wine sommelier, working at Tarara Vineyards in Leesburg, Virginia. Later, when Joan retired as well, the couple moved to Dahlonega, Georgia, where he continued his work as a sommelier and tour guide at the Montaluce Winery. In Dahlonega Joan began adopting a collection of agility dogs which Bill cheerfully and affectionately embraced. Bill nurtured a spectacular yard full of hostas, roses and other wonders of nature. Throughout his life, his plants thrived - he would attribute his success to his favorite rose food, Bayer 3-in-1 (if anyone asked) and his favorite fertilizer “Coop Poop” made from chicken poop.

In his final years, Bill and Joan moved to Gainesville, Georgia, where Bill joined their community’s wine and supper club and again handled popular wine tastings. He no longer poured, but still entertained and educated - and delighted everyone with his good taste and impeccably polished tasting glasses. He also joined the community garden, growing zinnias, tomatoes and beets.

He enjoyed his family the most and is survived by his wife of 55 years, Joan, his daughters, Kelly Steffey (Shawn), Carrie Gallagher (Amy), Colleen Bennett (Andy) and grandchildren – Meghan Steffey, Luke Steffey, Alex Hickman, Abby Hickman, George Bennett, Cooper Gallagher, Callan Gallagher and Bennett Gallagher. Till his last day, Bill loved his family and his pets, adored a dessert or a fine dining experience and was meticulous and decisive in his preferences. His dry wit, his carefully told stories as well as his humility and kindness will be remembered long after he is gone.

The staff of Central Cremation Services is honored to be selected to provide end-of-life services.

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