Brian David Gallagher - February 11, 1954 - November 14, 2016 San Diego - Brian David Gallagher of San Diego died unexpectedly on Monday, November 14, 2016. Brian was born on February 11, 1954 in Virginia Beach, Virginia to Frank Edward "Ned" Gallagher Jr., Col. USMC, and Mary Agnes "Tay" Gallagher. Brian was preceded in death by his father and younger brother, Kevin.Family and friends knew Brian first and foremost as a family man who enjoyed life to the fullest with his wife, Cathy, and sons Brian Jr. and Robby. He enjoyed hunting with his loyal Labrador retrievers, deep sea fishing, boating, and perfecting his skills as a chef and grill master. Brian was also a skilled outdoorsman and a generous mentor that took the time to share his knowledge with others.Brian attended high school at Bellarmine College Prep in San Jose and played tight end and line-backer on their football team. After high school he moved to Hawaii and skippered boats and taught scuba diving for several years. After returning to the mainland, Brian attended the University of San Diego and graduated with a degree in Business. He enjoyed a successful career in commercial real estate in San Diego.Cathy and Brian, both raised in Palo Alto, California, were married in 1984 and settled in San Diego. They eventually moved to North County, and Carmel Valley. Brian was very much involved in his sons' athletic activities, serving as a coach for their baseball and football teams. For his eldest son to play football he had to participate in a league north of their town. Brian decided to fill this void by creating the Torrey Pines Pop Warner League. He served as the founder and first league president. Brian was also passionate about professional football, in particular, The Green Bay Packers! Green Bay, Wisconsin was his mother's birth place and he had an unabashed love for all things cheese head and enjoyed trips to Green Bay for Packers games every year.Because of his love for hunting, Brian joined the Mystic Lake Duck Club in Riverside County. Once again, seeing a problem that needed fixing, Brian was instrumental in creating and improving the habitat of the club and by acquiring and planting hundreds of trees and other suitable waterfowl vegetation.Brian is survived by his mother, Tay, and beloved wife of 32 years, Catherine Biorn Gallagher, children Brian Gallagher, Jr. and Robert Gallagher; siblings Paul Gallagher (Marcy) of Folsom, Frank Gallagher III of San Diego, Mary Gallagher of Palo Alto, David Gallagher of Carlsbad, and their families, as well as cousins in Green Bay and Chicago. In addition to his father and brother, Brian was preceded in death by his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Barbara and Buddy Murfey. Brian was a devout Catholic who enjoyed the lessons that religion and life brought him, and he also simultaneously had an amazing sense of humor and dry wit that put people at ease and opened the doors for great friendships. He will greatly be missed.The Gallagher family extends an invitation to join them in a celebration of Brian's life at Saint Therese of Carmel on Thursday, December, 1 2016 at 1:00PM with a reception to follow at Southwestern Yacht Club in Point Loma.
Published in The San Diego Union Tribune on Nov. 27, 2016