John J. Gallagher, 88, hospital administrator
John J. Gallagher, 88, of Cape May Point, a former administrator at Kennedy University Hospital in Washington Township, died of cardiac arrest Monday, Sept. 12, at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center.
John J. Gallagher, 88, of Cape May Point, a former administrator at Kennedy University Hospital in Washington Township, died of cardiac arrest Monday, Sept. 12, at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center.
Mr. Gallagher left high school in his junior year to enter St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, where he completed high school and college studies and graduated in 1954, the year he was ordained.
He served in three Philadelphia parishes - Church of the Holy Child, the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the former St. Carthage Church.
But in 1973, the Vatican "gave him a dispensation so we could be married," said his wife, Ann, a former nun in the Missionary Servants of the Blessed Trinity.
In the late 1970s, Mr. Gallagher earned a master's in hospital administration at Temple University and began his 15-year career at Kennedy.
He then worked briefly as an administrator for two nursing homes.
And, his wife said, for eight years in the 1990s, he worked as a chaplain on cruise ships in the Caribbean.
Besides his wife of 42 years, Mr. Gallagher is survived by two brothers.
A visitation was set from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, at St. Agnes Church, 501 Cape Ave., Cape May Point, before an 11 a.m. Funeral Mass there. Private interment is to take place later.
Donations may be sent to the Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity, 3501 Solly Ave., Philadelphia 19136.
Condolences may be offered to the family at spilkerfuneralhome.com.
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