Robert Randolph Gallagher

He is survived by his loving wife Sarah, his son Robert B. (Lisa) and two grandchildren, Chase and Mason.

Born on September 21, 1945 in Washington DC, Randy was the only child of Colonel Robert Emmett Gallagher and Elizabeth Hewins Gallagher.

Randy grew up living on military bases across the country and abroad. His time overseas in Germany and Tripoli, Libya made a lasting impression on him. He liked to say he went to four different high schools in three different continents, Europe, Africa, and North America.

Randy graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 1970 with a Business Administration Degree. His first job after college was with an insurance company. He made one sale, one large sale, and parlayed the commission into the line of work he really wanted…he bought a 42’ fishing boat.

Lobstering and scalloping for a living, Randy fished for several years.

In 1972 Randy rescued the 1916 garden shed that was scheduled for demolition when the family home was being renovated. He moved it down to the family beach, put it on pilings and had it wired and plumbed. Thus was born the famous Boathouse. With an unparalled view and a welcoming host, the Boathouse was the scene for many parties and get togethers. During the eighties, a Cape Cod clambake was held on the beach every summer, consisting of rock and seaweed gathering days ahead of time, a large hole being dug, the fire lit in the morning and the food ready later in the day. These were a large group effort and memorable events. In 1991 the old boathouse was washed away during the No-Name Storm. Randy rebuilt the boathouse, but this time on tall pilings that were deemed able to survive a 100-year storm. He loved the boathouse and considered it one of his most notable accomplishments.

Randy’s passion was boats and the water. In 1981 he acquired his 200 ton USCG license, eventually upping it to 500 ton license. He began operating larger yachts as a hired captain, wintering in Florida or the Caribbean, and summering in Massachusetts.

Despite all of his traveling, Randy never missed a summer on the Cape. The Hewins family roots went way back in Orleans. The family purchased the original homestead at the end of Tonset Road in 1850. Randy spent early summers at the little Cape half house, right after WWII, with his mother, his older cousins, and his Aunt. Stories of those early days were wonderful….no electricity, no running water, no car (the family would transport uptown by sailboat if necessary), eating fried flounder for breakfast, every day spent at the beach, sailing over and back, tubs of water set out in the morning to warm by the sun to bathe in when the family returned from the beach.

In 1960 Randy’s parents acquired the big house next door. Summer family gatherings began again in 1997, when cousins and their children resumed coming to the ‘Little House’ as well as staying at the ‘Big House’. There were many fine times had during those summers, eating lobsters on the deck and telling stories.

In the mid nineties Randy experienced some health problems, and opted to retire from full time boat work. He settled in Orleans with Sarah. Turns out, though he loved the freedom and excitement of being a traveling boat captain, he loved their domestic home life too.

Days were full of home projects, boating, fishing, traveling and spending time with family and friends. Of special note were the summers spent exploring Pleasant Bay together on his 28’ boat.

Randy will be remembered for his extraordinary skill as a seaman, his love of Cape Cod, and his charm, wit, warmth and storytelling abilities. He had many significant experiences in his life and had a great memory for recounting these experiences.

He is dearly missed.