William (Bill) J. Gallagher (83) of East Bridgewater, MA, passed away on Friday, September 6, 2024. Bill and Rita, his beloved wife of over 56 years, loved to travel or cruise anywhere especially when it was with their family and/or dear friends.

Bill was the devoted husband of Rita Gallagher (Muldowney)and the proud father of Kevin Gallagher and his wife Jamie of Rockland and Lisa Mutchler and her husband Jason of Hanover. Bill was so proud to be ‘Gampie’ to Taylor and Brandon Gallagher and Juliana, Evan and Jaclyn Mutchler. He loved to watch his grandchildren in all their activities and celebrated all of their achievements. Bill is survived by his ‘kissing’ cousins. He is also survived by his in-laws Joanne McMillen and her husband Fran, Nancy Reppucci and her husband Mike, and Janice Muldowney as well Jennifer Muldowney, Michael McMillen, Michele Fidalgo, Nicole Leslie, and Lindsey Kelly, his nieces and nephew. Bill is predeceased by his brother-in-law, John Muldowney, Jr. Bill and Rita were blessed to create an amazing group of friends from when they lived in the Wyman Fields neighborhood ofRockland. Those friends and their children remain close friends (‘family”) with Bill, Rita, Kevin, Lisa and their families.

Bill was born in Somerville and raised in Jamaica Plain and Roslindale, MA to William F. and Audrey C. Gallagher. He graduated from Boston College High School (1958) and Boston College (1962). He was a proud Double Eagle. After college, Bill served in the US Army from 1962-1965. After serving, Bill worked for Endicott Peabody, the Governor of Massachusetts. Bill was the Chief Administrative Officer and then the Deputy Executive Director for the New England Governor’s Conference over his 30 plus year career. After Bill retired, he went to work for Glenn Warren Travel with Rita.

Bill and Rita met in March, 1967 and they were married on February 10, 1968 at Sacred Heart Church in North Quincy, MA. Bill and Rita raised their family in Hanover moving fromRockland where they made lifelong friends.

Bill and Rita got their love of traveling after taking their first cruise in 1980 with wonderful friends. That cruise started their 44+ years of cruising on most major cruise lines to Alaska, Hawaii, the Caribbean, Canada, Europe, Cuba, Russia, Greenland and Iceland. Bill loved to discuss cruising and belonged to several chat boards where he shared his expertise and experience.

The Gallagher family invites friends and loved ones to celebrate Bill’s life in the Magoun-Biggins Funeral Home on Wednesday, September 11, 2024 from 4:00-7:00 pm. A Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday September 12,2024 in the St. Mary of the Sacred Heart Church in Hanover at 9:00 AM. Burial will follow in the Hanover Center Cemetery.