Nancy (Lawlor) Gallagher

Nancy (Lawlor) Gallagher passed peacefully with family at her side on February 19, 2023 in Colorado Springs, CO. - she was 94 years old.

Nancy graduated from St. Joseph's College in 1950, earning a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, and the role of "Wittiest" in her graduating class. She made many close friendships during those years included bonding with five fellow chemistry majors who called themselves the "Benzene Ring". 

Nancy married William (Bill) M. Gallagher on September 11, 1954 during hurricane Edna, making the best of the power outage with candle-lit dining and dancing. They moved to Cheshire, CT. where they lived for the next 63 years. During the early years, Bill and Nancy frequented the Shubert Theater in New Haven where they attended top test-run Broadway productions such as My Fair Lady and Oklahoma. As her children were born, she devoted herself to family life, but remained active in the Cheshire Women's club, local Bridge club, and the Catholic church. In the early ‘70s, Nancy returned to work part-time at the US Forest Service research station as a lab technician. Twenty some years later, she retired as a fulltime employee, having also served as the Federal Women’s Program representative for the northeast as well as on the Civil Rights Committee. Co-workers remember her dedication, professionalism, and great sense of humor. Despite the job, Nancy closely followed her own children’s sport teams, rarely missing an ice hockey, field hockey, basketball, or track event. She was also an avid UConn women’s basketball fan.

Bill and Nancy moved to Colorado in 2017 to be closer to their daughters. She will be remembered as a loving Mother who taught her children to love reading and to take care of those you love, especially family. Her strength in the face of near-constant adversity was an inspiration to all and her strength, friendship and the intelligent humor she shared with friends and family will be missed dearly. Besides her parents, Nancy was predeceased by her husband, daughter Pat, and brothers Harry and Robert Lawlor. Surviving children include Dan, Meg (Althea), Beth, and granddaughter Katie Gallagher.

Services celebrating Nancy’s life will be held in Colorado Springs March 17, 2023, and May 18, 2023 in Connecticut. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of Nancy’s favorite charities, Americares, 88 Hamilton Avenue, Stamford, CT 06902.

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