Garry John Gallagher

Garry John Gallagher, 67, passed away peacefully on Wednesday December 4, 2024, in Richmond, Virginia. He was born in London, England of Irish parents and raised in Greystones, County Wicklow, Ireland. He immigrated to the United States in 1981 where he became a naturalized citizen, started a family with his first wife, and pursued a long career as an engineer, property developer, and general contractor. He relocated to Richmond in 1998 and married Katherine Mazur in 2003.

Throughout his life, Garry carried many characteristics of the Irish—the gift of easy conversation and storytelling, the love of family, a ready willingness to help and support others, and an optimism about the future. He loved his wife and children, his family in Ireland, and his many friends and was, in turn, loved by them. He was happiest when surrounded by family and friends, especially when preparing delicious dishes for family gatherings and the annual Oystoberfest at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Ginter Park. The development and construction projects completed during his career benefited from his well-honed knowledge and his aesthetic sense, and the finished results testify to his abilities.

Garry completed his undergraduate studies at the Dublin Institute of Technology. Early in his career, he served as an engineer for Target and Rite Aid, establishing stores across the United States. Since arriving in Richmond, he served as a project engineer with EDC, a development company, and as co-owner of Development Strategies, Inc., through which the development of Colony Crossing and the St. Francis Family Medicine Center on Hull Street were completed in the early 2000s.

Garry was preceded in death by his father, John Joseph Gallagher, and his daughter, Erin, from his first marriage. He is survived by his wife of 21 years, Katherine Mazur Gallagher, and his son Joseph Edward Gallagher. He is also survived by children from his first marriage, daughter Brianna Marie Gallagher of Florida and son Connor Joseph Gallagher (Cheyenne) of Chicago. He is also survived by his Irish family still living in County Wicklow: loving mother Brigid Mary Gallagher, sister Caroline Gallagher (Michael), brothers James Gallagher (Carolyn), Russell Gallagher (Ingrid), and Gregory Gallagher (Joanne), and by his many Irish nieces and nephews of whom he was most fond. In Virginia, he is survived by his loving father-in-law Edward J. Mazur of Bon Air, by his brothers-in-law David Mazur (Christine) of Fairfax and Jonathan Mazur (Jessica) of Alexandria, and by his five nieces and nephews by marriage.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 14th at 11 a.m. in St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 3602 Hawthorne Ave., Richmond, VA 23222, followed by a reception in the Church hall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Garry’s memory to the St. Thomas Episcopal Church at stthomasrichmond.org.