Paul Joseph Gallagher, 68, of Newton Lake, succumbed to a sudden cardiac arrest at home on Tuesday February 1st, cutting a life lived for his family unexpectedly short.

Born and raised in the Green Ridge neighborhood of Scranton, Paul was son to John “Johnny” Gallagher and Mary Manley Gallagher. He attended both Scranton Preparatory School (class of 1971) and Franklin & Marshall College (class of 1975) on academic scholarships. At College, Paul was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha and played point guard on the school’s basketball team before adopting a position as an assistant coach. Paul parlayed his scholastic and extracurricular achievements to subsequently earn an MBA in Finance from Cornell University.

With an MBA in hand, Paul began his professional career in the service of his community, working for the Scranton School District. It was in this role that he met his future wife of 40 years – Mary Kathryn Haran. After moving to Connecticut in 1979, he then began what would become an impressive 41-year career in Financial Services. In addition to numerous professional and personal accomplishments, including being the first elected expatriate member of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, his career afforded him the opportunity to live in both Asia & Europe and travel to many unique and diverse places. Paul was fortunate enough to visit over 22 countries, often with family and friends in tow. Since returning to Pennsylvania full time in 2009 Paul also took great pride in his work on the Greater Carbondale YMCA board.

Paul was an avid runner. In his life he completed 7 marathons, the most recent being the Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach in 2014. Paul loved sports, especially basketball and football. He was an avid fan of Notre Dame Football with a growing soft spot for the Nittany Lions. Not only did Paul enjoy sports from a fan’s perspective, in his kids’ earlier years he could often be seen pacing the sidelines of soccer fields and basketball courts as a winning coach. Though his work schedule was often demanding he always made it a priority to find time for family. Paul was incredibly proud of all 3 of his children and delighted to welcome both a granddaughter and grandson over the last 3 years.

In addition to his wife Mary, Paul leaves behind three children - Casey Haran Gallagher, of Hong Kong, Paul Garrett Gallagher, of Sanford, North Carolina, and Sarah Jane Gallagher, of Arlington, Virginia; his older brother Bobby and wife Barbara Gallagher of Harrisburg; his cousins Tom Gallagher, of Scranton and Jack Gallagher, of Annapolis, Maryland; and multiple nieces and nephews. Paul also leaves behind two grandchildren, Kenzie Hope Gallagher, 3, of Sanford, North Carolina and Caden Joseph Almeida, 8 months, of Hong Kong.  

The funeral will be Saturday, February 12th with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 am in Saint Rose of Lima Church, 6 N. Church St., Carbondale.  Interment will be private at the convenience of the family.  Friends may call Friday, from 3 to 6 pm at the Brennan & Brennan Funeral Home, Inc., 55 Lincoln Avenue, Carbondale.  All those attending the funeral on Saturday are asked to go directly to the church.  The family kindly asks that all those attending the viewing or funeral please wear a mask.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made to the Greater Carbondale YMCA, 82 N. Main Street, Carbondale, PA 18407.