Dr Joan Gallagher

Nursing supervisor at Fairfield Hills

Dr Joan Gallagher, 74, of Heritage Village, Southbury died August 13 in River Glen Health Care Center, Southbury after a gallant and courageous battle with cancer.

For 32 years, Dr Gallagher was a nurse at Fairfield Hills Hospital in Newtown, retiring in 1983 as head nursing supervisor.

She was born in Bridgeport on January 2, 1931, a daughter of John and Alice (Conklin) McGrath. Dr Gallagher was a graduate of Bassick High School in Bridgeport. She earned her RN degree in nursing from Norwalk Community College, an MA degree from Goddard College and a PhD in preventive medicine and nursing administration from Columbia Pacific University.

Dr Gallagher was an active member of the Tribury Rotary Club and was previously a member of the Newtown Rotary Club. She was a three-time recipient of the Paul Harris Humanitarian Award. Dr Gallagher was the recipient of the Connecticut Lt Governors Civic Leadership award. She was an active member of St Paul’s Episcopal Church in Woodbury.

In her retirement, Dr Gallagher made hundreds of quilts, which she generously donated to local not-for-profits and to raffles for fund raisers.

Dr Gallagher is survived by her children, Mary Gallagher-DeLucia and her husband, Alexander, of Brookfield, John Gallagher of Mustang, Okla., and Neal Gallagher and his wife, Dr Janice Shipley, of Grants, N.M.; a sister, Elsie Keers of Watertown; and three grandchildren, Shelby DeLucia, Cpl Matthew Luczak, USMC, and Joshua Bellin-Gallagher; one great-grandson, Kieran Charles Allan; eight nieces and nephews, Christine Healy, Catherine Whitehead, Edward McGrath, John McGrath, Charlene Sullivan, Francis McGrath, Jeff Keers, and Beth Dodge. She is also survived by her longtime close friend, Dr Robert Goebel. Dr Gallagher is predeceased by a brother, Edward McGrath.

The family would like to extend their gratitude to the wonderful staff at River Glen Health Care Center for their kindness and compassion that made Dr Gallagher’s last months filled with dignity and love.

Funeral services will be held 11 am, Saturday, August 20 in St Paul’s Episcopal Church, 317 Main Street South, Woodbury. Burial will be in St Rose Cemetery, Newtown at the convenience of the family.

Friends may call at the Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown, Friday, August 19, from 5 to 8 pm.

The family requests contributions to the American Cancer Society, 372 Danbury Road, Wilton CT 06897 or to the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, 6350 N Andrews Avenue, Ft Lauderdale FL 33309-2130 or to the charity of one’s choice.

The Newtown Bee        August 19, 2005