Msgr. William J. Gallagher, a Desert Storm veteran who served throughout the Diocese of Buffalo, died Nov. 11, 2019.

The second of 10 children belonging to William J. and Elizabeth Pfeiffer Gallagher, Msgr. Gallagher was born May 11, 1940, and raised near St. John the Evangelist Parish on Seneca Street. He attended Bishop Timon High School in South Buffalo, graduating in 1957.

In 1961, he graduated from Canisius College with a bachelor's degree in History.

Msgr. Gallagher began his long military career as a commissioned second lieutenant in the Military Police Corps serving in Germany and the United States until his discharge in 1963.

In September 1964, he enrolled in St. John Vianney Seminary, East Aurora, where he earned bachelor's and master's degrees in Ministry.

Bishop Pius A. Benincasa ordained Msgr. Gallagher in St. Joseph Cathedral, Buffalo, on June 24, 1969.

He first served as a minister to migrant workers throughout the diocese, and then as assistant pastor of Blessed Trinity, Buffalo; St. John the Baptist, Lockport; and St. Paul, Kenmore. In 1978, he was named vice rector of St. Joseph Cathedral, then pastor of St. Mary of the Angels Parish in Olean in 1984. He returned to the cathedral as rector in 1990, shortly before being reactivated in the military as part of Operation Desert Storm. He served in the Sultanate of Oman as a hospital chaplain at a combined Army/Air Force field hospital. After returning to the U.S., he was promoted to colonel and assigned to the Military District of Washington with duty as staff chaplain at Arlington Nation Cemetery. In 1997, he was appointed pastor of St. John Vianney Parish in Orchard Park. 

He retired from the priesthood in 2012, although he did briefly serve as administrator of St. John Vianney Parish that spring.

For the past seven years, Msgr. Gallagher has helped out at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in South Buffalo, celebrating Sunday and daily Masses, as well as myriad baptisms and funerals.

In the Diocese of Buffalo, Msgr. Gallagher served as an advocate and judge on the diocesan Marriage Tribunal, a member of the Diocesan Finance Council, the Diocesan Mediation Board, the Priest's Personnel Board, and sat as a judge in the Matrimonial Tribunal Court of Second Instance for the Archdiocese of New York City.

He served as chaplain for Western New York Judges and various New York police and fire departments.

Survivors include his siblings Robert Gallagher, James Gallagher, Stephen Gallagher, M. Therese Pitrelli, Ann Laudisio, Patricia Casillo and Mark Gallagher. He is predeceased by his parents and brothers Joseph and john Gallagher

Visitation will take place at the James W. Cannan Funeral Home (Southtowns Chapel), 3155 Orchard Park Road on Thursday, Nov. 14, from 4-8 p.m. A visitation will also take place Friday, Nov. 15, from 2-8 p.m. at St. John Vianney Church, 2950 Southwestern Blvd., Orchard Park.

 A funeral Mass will take place Saturday, Nov. 16, at St. John Vianney Church at 10 a.m. Burial will take place at Holy Cross cemetery in Lackawanna.
 

^{Edit:
For the past seven years, Msgr. Gallagher has helped out at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in South Buffalo, celebrating Sunday and daily Masses, as well as myriad baptisms and funerals.}