Michael Gallagher

Michael Joseph Gallagher passed away peacefully at home on July 6, 2022. He was born in Chicago, and raised in Silver Lake, WI by parents Royce and Katherine Kemp Gallagher. He was predeceased by younger brother, Donald Gallagher. Mike was an Eagle Scout, and attended UW-Madison on an ROTC scholarship, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. He declined a position with Admiral Hyman Rickover’s staff in D.C. to fulfill his dream of becoming a submariner. He served as a Lieutenant during the Vietnam era on both diesel and nuclear subs and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon for his service.

Upon discharge, he returned to Chicago, earned an MBA at Northwestern University with expertise in statistical analysis and technology, and took a position as management consultant to the foundry industry with Lester B. Knight & Associates, an architectural, engineering, and planning firm. As Mike excelled in the industry, his area of service expanded to worldwide offices, leading to international travel, including a teaching assignment through the United Nations to China.

He met his wife, Christina J. Gallagher, at L. B. Knight, where she worked in the architecture/engineering side of the house. They married a year later in 1979 and had two wonderful children, the late Anthony Hillis, and Keavy Katherine, who lives and works in Nashville as a ceramic artist, raising two beautiful children, Finn and Lucy, with husband Barry.

Mike and family moved to Cape Coral, FL in 1998 to care for Chris’ widowed mother. Mike continued consulting assignments for L. B. Knight, and the family was often able to accompany him to major industry conferences in Europe, South America, and Mexico, where he often gave speeches in Spanish. The family took full advantage of Mike's international work travel by combining treasured family vacations with those assignments. Following his many years of success in the consulting industry, Mike began a second career where he shared his love of math as a professor at Florida Gulf Coast University and Hodges University in Fort Myers and Naples. Upon retirement, the decision was made to move closer to the grandchildren in Nashville.

Mike was a man of humor and intellect, who always enjoyed problem solving, whether it be mathematical, corporate, or crosswords. Mike was a lifelong student of history who had an extraordinary flair for recollection of names and dates and never missed the opportunity to relate a historical tidbit. Mike was a man of the world and continued traveling with his wife Chris through his later years. Mike was a loving father and grandfather who made the most of his 79 years. He will be dearly missed. A Celebration of Life will be held in Fall 2022 in Cape Coral, FL.

Nashville Cremation Center is honored to be entrusted with handling Mr. Gallagher's arrangements. Please visit his tribute page to leave a thoughtful note for the family.