A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, Aug. 1 at 10 a.m. at St. Mary Church in Denville, N.J. for Gerald “Gerry” Robert Gallagher, former head football coach of Morris Catholic High School, also in Denville, and former special teams coordinator at Delbarton School in Morristown, N.J., who died on July 24. He was 73.
Born on Christmas Day in 1951 to George and Martha Gallagher in Dover, N.J., Gallagher was the eldest of six siblings and grew up in Rockaway, N.J. He met Patricia, the love of his life, during his high school years at Morris Catholic, where he was a senior captain of the football team. He and Patricia married shortly after graduation in 1969 and shared more than 52 years of love and mutual devotion.
The Gallaghers raised three children and lived in Boonton, Montville, and Wharton, all in New Jersey, before making stops in Pennsylvania as he pursued other career opportunities. They eventually settled in Rockaway, N.J., where they lived for more than 31 years.
Gallagher earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1973 from William Paterson University in Wayne, N.J., where he was inspired to become a football coach and educator. There, he was a member of the Pioneers’ inaugural football squad, where he went on to achieve significant accolades.
Before serving as the head football coach of Morris Catholic’s Crusaders from 1977 to 1983, Gallagher was the school’s assistant coach from 1973 to 1976.
In New Jersey, Gallagher also served as head coach at William Paterson, from 1989 to 1996, and Montville High School, from 1997 to 2010, where he also was a physical education and health teacher. He also was assistant coach at Boonton High School, from 2011 to 2012; offensive coordinator at Parsippany High School; and special teams coordinator at Delbarton School in Morristown, from 2015 to 2023.
Over the years, Gallagher dedicated himself to the growth and development of countless student-athletes, coaching at multiple schools and working with children of all ages, including those with physical or developmental disabilities. He was more than a coach; he was a role model and a second father.
A lifelong football fan, Gallagher rooted for the N.Y. Giants and the Georgia Bulldogs, a passion he shared with his family, especially his grandson. Whether coaching his children’s teams or cheering from the sidelines, he never missed a game, especially when they were on the field. Gallagher had a special bond with his son Bryan, who followed in his coaching footsteps.
Gallagher’s dedication to football earned him many honors during his career, including the American Football Coaches Association Power of Influence Award and inductions into the New Jersey Football Coaches Hall of Fame, Morris Catholic Hall of Fame, and the William Paterson Hall of Fame.
He also received the Ray McCrann Lifetime Achievement Award and a lifetime achievement award at the Phil Simms North-South Football Classic, a testament to his enduring legacy and the respect he commanded throughout the football community. He was named the New Jersey Football Coaches Association’s Coach of the Year in 2006.
Gallagher is survived by his wife, Patricia; his children, Amy Gallagher, Bryan (Lauren) Gallagher, and Cayleigh (Jennifer) Gallagher; his grandson, Kellen Gallagher; his siblings, John Gallagher, Marianne (Billy) Marcello, Joanne Jaeger, Kathleen (Patrick) Murphy, and Michael (Kathy) Gallagher; and many nieces and nephews.
A public visitation for Gallagher will be held on Thursday, July 31, from 3 to 7 p.m. at Norman Dean Home for Services in Denville, before his Mass of Christian Burial on Aug. 1.
Memorial donations in Gallagher’s name can be made to the American Diabetes Association by visiting inmemof.
