Gloria was born in Galesburg, IL on July 4, 1935, to Fred and Cleo Peabody, and was the youngest of nine children. After graduating from Galesburg High School and then Airline Training School in Omaha, NE, she enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1954 and was subsequently assigned to Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, CO. In 1955 she was assigned by the Air Force to serve as staff secretary for the Eisenhower administration’s summer White House, which was located on Lowry AFB. She often expressed that the experience, privilege, and responsibility in serving the President and his family during this early period in her career continued to inspire her throughout life.
Gloria performed with the entertainer Jerry van Dyke and Tops in Blue, a touring performance ensemble made up of active duty military. This experience inspired her to continue her involvement in community theater, both performing on stage and directing; and in later years as a playwright, a theater critic, and historian.
While in the military, Gloria met her future husband Gerard A. Gallagher, Jr. who was assigned to the Air Force Training Command at Lowry AFB. They fell in love and were married in June 1956 and remained married for 63 years until her death.
Gloria earned her degree in Theater Arts at SUNY Fredonia and her Master’s degree in Theater History, Theory and Criticism at the University of Maryland, where she completed her thesis on the history of Shea’s Buffalo Theater. She was nominated for a Mellon Fellowship and subsequently performed in the Medieval Mystery Plays at Rievaulx Abbey in Yorkshire, England while completing her studies through a New York University doctorate program in Great Britain.
Gloria and her husband Gerard moved to East Aurora, NY in 1972, and in 2001 retired to Palm Beach Gardens, FL. As a result of her life-long passion for classical theater, she travelled the world extensively and pursued her interests in culture and the theater arts.
Gloria was active with the Aurora Players from 1972 to 1994, and served as president of the organization and as a member of the board of directors. She directed many plays and musicals during this period, with her favorite productions being My Fair Lady and The Miracle Worker. As an actress she stated that her favorite performances were in Tell Me That You Love Me Junie Moon and The Curious Savage. Gloria was honored to receive Courier Express Theater Awards for two musicals that she directed - My Fair Lady and The Sound of Music.
She went on to direct two East Aurora High School musicals; The Wizard of Oz in 1992, and Grease in 1993. Gloria found great joy in working with young people in the community; awakening and nurturing a love for live theater and the performance arts.
Gloria is survived by her husband Gerard; her four children, Gerard A. Gallagher III of East Aurora, NY, Teresa A. Gallagher (James Link) of Springville, NY, Michelle A. Gallagher and James A. Gallagher, both of Palm Beach Gardens FL; as well as five grandchildren, Rachel, Arnold, Amanda, Cleo and Jordan; and six great grandchildren.
A memorial will be held for Gloria on September 8, at 11:00 a.m., at Howard-Quattlebaum Funeral Home, 754 U.S. Hwy 1, North Palm Beach FL (www.howard-pricefuneralhome.com). As a military veteran she will be interred at the South Florida National Cemetery in Lake Worth, FL. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in her name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN, 38105.
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