Brendan Gallagher, 92, passed away on Saturday, February 28, 2026. He was born and raised in Rathgar, Dublin, Ireland, to Sean and Honoria Gallagher. The middle child of five, Brendan was named most beautiful baby in Ireland in 1934.

He attended secondary school at St. Mary’s College in Rathmines, where his father taught Latin and the Classics, and received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical and electrical engineering from University College Dublin, National University of Ireland. Graduating in 1955, he began his career at the Electricity Supply Board of Ireland. In 1958 Brendan married Mary Healy at St. Joseph Church, Terenure, followed by a reception at the famed Shelbourne Hotel of Dublin. Brendan and Mary then sailed to America, residing in Forest Hills, New York, and later in New Canaan, Connecticut. During this time Brendan earned a Master of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Connecticut, received his Professional Engineering license from the State of New York, and worked in the utilities industry for Long Island Lighting Company (LILCO), Citizens Utilities, and Orange & Rockland Utilities.

In 1967 Brendan decided to follow his father’s teaching footsteps and relocated to New Jersey to become an electrical engineering professor at the newly opened Middlesex County College in Edison, where he continued until his retirement in 1994. During his tenure at MCC, Brendan was an active member of Local 1940 of the American Federation of Teachers, for which he served as Vice President and President.

His long-time passion for tennis began as a young boy in Dublin, highlighted by winning the County Wexford Men’s Singles Championship in 1952 and the Marlboro Township Men’s Singles tournament in 1982. Finally hanging up his tennis racquet, Brendan took up pickleball in his eighties, where he competed with a wonderful and much younger group of players.

Brendan especially enjoyed having friends and visitors from Ireland for parties and holidays. All were welcome. He will be remembered for his caring nature, humor, and willingness to lend a hand to neighbors and all around him.

Brendan and Mary resided in Marlboro Township for 56 years before moving to a senior living community. Brendan was predeceased by brothers Kevin and Niall and sister Eileen, and is survived by his wife Mary, sister Maureen, children Eithne, Siobhan, Deirdre (Vito) and Brian (Cathleen), and two beloved grandchildren, Gerald and Catherine.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 12pm Friday, March 13, 2026, at St Gabriel’s Historic Church, 549 Newman Springs Road, Marlboro, NJ 07746.  Entombment of cremains will follow at the parish cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in remembrance of Brendan may be made to Sister Carole MacKenthun’s Mission of Mercy Uganda Fund to feed the children at St. Kizito School. Checks should be made payable to St. Catharine – St. Margaret Parish with Mission of Mercy Uganda in the Memo line. Mail donations to St. Catharine – St. Margaret Parish, 215 Essex Ave, Spring Lake, NJ 07762.