Paul H. Gallagher

SHREWSBURY – Paul Gallagher embodied Rotary International’s motto ‘Service Above Self’ throughout his life. Paul was a longtime member of the Westborough Rotary Club, served as club president, and was later awarded the Paul Harris Fellow. In 1988 he founded the Global Emergency Medicine Initiative (GEMINI), a Rotary International service project, which provides emergency medical equipment and training to underserved countries such as Guatemala, Nicaragua, Guyana, and Honduras. Through his work with GEMINI, he collaborated with Rotarians across the world and health organizations such as the University of Massachusetts Medical School. His legacy continues today. In addition to his service with Rotary International, he volunteered his time and effort to Dismas House and the HEART program. He was an active member of the Worcester Meeting of the Society of Friends.

Paul H. Gallagher was born June 30, 1936, in Somerville, the son of the late John J. and Sarah (Carney) Gallagher. His family moved to Needham as a young boy, and he later graduated from Needham High School. During peacetime he served honorably in the United States Army and later earned his bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He lived a brief time in Newton and later Millbury before making Shrewsbury his adopted home in 1974. 

Paul died at home on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, surrounded by his family after an illness. He was 88.

Paul’s professional career began with Shell Oil, where he worked as a regional manager while acquiring a few properties himself. He then transitioned to and enjoyed a long and successful career in commercial real estate development. Gallagher Real Estate has a well-known footprint in Central Massachusetts, and he was still active at the time of his death.

Paul had a lifelong appreciation for the beauty of nature, and in 2005 he donated land to the Town of Northborough, naming it ‘Carney Park’ in memory of his mother, Sarah Carney Gallagher. As an avid and daily walker, himself, Carney Park provides walking trails for the community to enjoy. He loved a good read and enjoyed Wordle even in his final days. For the past thirteen years, he and Sandy spent their winters in Tequesta, Florida, cultivating new friendships and appreciating paradise.

Paul treasured making memories with his family through travel adventures such as national parks, Europe, ski trips out west, and Ogunquit, Maine. In his later years he traveled extensively across the world for various service projects accompanied by his lifelong partner, Sandy. Paul, with Sandy and their close family friends Ed and Joyce Flynn and Tom and the late Mary Ellen Massmann, enjoyed dinners out with special attention to the desserts and embarking on new adventures. Paul enjoyed playing early morning golf on public courses in New England and Florida.

Paul leaves his family including his partner and best friend of 39 years, Sandra H. (Hill) Mayrand; his children, Anne Marie Gallagher (Matthew Carty) of Medford, Suzanne G. Boots (Rick) of Anchorage, Alaska, Michael J. Gallagher of Los Angeles, California, Matthew J. Mayrand (Susan) of Shrewsbury and Rebecca J. Comiskey (Sean) of Natick; his grandchildren, Jack Boots, Grace Comiskey and Logan Mayrand; his sister-in-law, Kay Gallagher of Needham; also survived by nieces & nephews. Paul was predeceased by his brothers, Lester Gallagher (late Muriel), John ‘Jack’ Gallagher (late Dorothy) and James Gallagher.

Family and friends will gather to honor and remember Paul’s life on Tuesday, May 20th at Cyprian Keyes Golf Club, 284 East Temple Street, Boylston. A Memorial Service will begin at 5 pm followed by Paul’s request for a ‘party’ until 8:30 p.m. Burial with military honors in Mountain View Cemetery is private. There are no calling hours.

Arrangements by James + John Heald of The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street, Waltham.