A letter from Kerstin in Germany

A friend of Abba and Tom sent an email in Germany saying she was sorry for our loss.

Hi Tommy,
ich habe Heute von Manu erfahren, das dein Vater (Abba) gestorben ist.
Ich wollte Dir nur sagen das es mir sehr leid tut und ich in Gedanken bei dir und Deiner Familie bin. Es ist immer schwer wenn man einen Elternteil verliert aber im Herzen leben die Eltern weiter. War dein Vater krank oder hatte er einen Unfall? Melde dich doch bitte mal bei mir. jetzt hast Du ja auch meine neue E-mail-Adresse so wir gehen niemals verloren.
Ich umarme Dich und liebe Grüsse auch von Volker
Kerstin aus Frankfurt, Manuelas freundin
--
Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Kerstin Langer

(Google English Translation: Today I have learned of Manu, your father (Abba) died.
I wanted you to say that I am very sorry and I thought when you and your family bin. It is always difficult when you lose a parent but live in the heart of the parents. Was your father or ill, he had an accident? Register but please look at me. now you also my new e-mail address so we are never lost.
Umarme I love you and also by Volker
Kerstin from Frankfurt, Manuelas friend)

A Thousand Winds

Sachiko called me and played me a song in Japanese based on the poem "Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep." She played it in the background and interpreted it. It was really sweet and I really appreciated it. I found a video of the song on You Tube with English subtitles: A Thousand Winds

My rational mind really fights with this- but more and more I've been having experiences that have left me feeling some sort of connection/ communication from beyond the grave- (things like my experience getting my locket in Sea Ranch and Sachiko's contact). Yesterday, at Mono Hot Springs, I met a woman, a practicing shaman, who gave me a massage. She asked me if I knew what it was causing me pain and it made me just cry and cry. I told her about Abba and she told me there was no death, he was right there with me- that now he's even closer to me than he was in the physical form. The things she talked about reminded me of this song and poem that Sachiko shared. She talked a lot about how to work though pain (by thanking it for the experience and releasing it with love) and said something that about how we're all whole and complete, perfect beings-something that Abba had said to me before he died. Then, after she left the room, I heard his voice in my head saying "Forgive me." I've been thinking about that since. Maybe it's what I need to work on most. Maybe that's the only way I'll be able to move forward. That voice gave me the key toward healing.

On the way home "Time in a Bottle" played in the restaurant. it's been a song that's reminded me of Abba lately, so I had Nate make it the song of the day for this blog.

Sachiko said in Buddhism they believe that the spirits of those that died are still around us. Mariah said that there are Native American cultures that believe that a person does not truly die until all who knew the person is gone. He lives on in our memories and hearts. I have no rational explanation for the things I think I'm experiencing. Maybe it's just all in my brain and what I need to believe, but it helps me to think he's near, still sharing experiences with me, being my guardian angel and among the "thousand winds" around me.

Sachiko's Dream (e-mailed today from Japan)

Dear Sara

Hello. How are you? We are doing good.
I hope you are doing everything O.K.

Congratulations! for your wedding.
Also thank you for sending your wedding invitation card which is very beautiful of you
and handsome young man.

I was in Kakogawa where is near Osaka for our business trip since Aug 11th.
I came back home on 18th night.

On the 18th morning I saw a dream. You and Bill (your father) were in my dream.
You wore the wedding dress, and Bill wore the suit with smiling face.
In the dream I said to you, “Congratulations! When are you going to get married?”
You said in December. It made me surprised, it was truth.

(I have known you are going to get married. Moki sent me the pictures which you wore the wedding dress last month.
I didn’t know you are going to get married in December until I came back home on 18th night).

Bill asked me,” Hi, Sachiko, How are you?”
I replied him “Good. I heard you past away in April, didn’t you?.”
He was nodding with smile. And he said “ I’m here".

Then I awaked. I sat up on the bed, I couldn’t realize what was it? What happened?
Then,I realized it was a dream.

When I think about Bill, he has always smiling face.
He was very special to me. He was a great teacher and a good father.
I learned a lot from him.

In Japan, we have a special song which is very popular since year before.
The title of this song is “ A thousand of wind” in Japan.
Japanese person made a song for this poem.

The title of this poem is “Do not stand at my grave and weep” in America.
Mary Frye made this poem.
This poem is from America. Probably you already know it.
The 11 years old girl read this poem for her father after one year Sep.11th.

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand of winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft starlight at night.
So do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.

Bill did not die. He became a thousand winds.
He blows and runs all over the huge and wide sky.

When I think about dead people, this poem gives me healing.
I am helped by this poem.

I have been thinking to whom sent this poem for this 4 months.
I couldn’t decided, but I saw a dream you and Bill two days ago.
So , I decided to send it to you.

Congratulations! for your wedding. Sara.

We love you. Please say “Hello “ to your mother and brothers.

With love

Sachiko

Sau vali vali

Found this email today written by Abba in 2006. I can still hear his voice singing it-

FYI, with love...

It's a Samoan song that I sang to your mother when we were courting; in particular, driving her to summer school from Las Vegas, in 1962:

Sau vali vali means go for a walk
Tau tala tala means too much talk,
Alofa ia te oe means I love you,
Take it easy, sai sai le mu!

Love, --Abba

Happy Father's Day Abba

How I wish you were here today Abba. I've been thinking of all the things I still want to do with you and share with you. Every time I use my tool set you gave me when I moved into my house, I see the note you wrote on it. I remember coming home to see it on my doorstep, near the mazuza you put on my door post (so thoughtfully matching the paint on my house). When I go to golden gate park, I think about wanting to ride my bike with you. Remember the date we had a few years ago, when you felt too ill but drove all the way down from Diamond Springs anyway to be with me? I took care of you and you told me I had a healing touch. And the next day we went to the sea cliff and walked around. In the restaurant where we had brunch, there was an irish family sitting next to us. I remembered that when I took Rob and Nate to that same brunch spot and again, there was another Irish family sitting near by.

Remember our last date together on Christmas Eve? I know you wanted to go to the Nutcracker with me (you had a newspaper clipping of it on the fridge a year earlier). For you it was something to do with your little girl and made you think of me that way. But no longer a little girl, I wanted something more entertaining. We saw A Christmas Carol instead. And it was really good! I don't know if you were disappointed at first or not, but you seemed to really enjoy it. I'm still thrilled that we went to the Indian restaurant on Jones St. I swear its the best in the city. I wanted to take you there for so long because I knew you loved spicy food. That was the last time I saw you alive. After that, only emails, voice messages and phone calls connected us through our busy lives. Now the voice messages are gone and you can no longer call me. And i can no longer call you back. I tried to save your voice messages to me but they were erased by the phone company before I could save a copy. So all I have left of your voice now is your out-going message from your cell phone recorded here: http://quietamerican.org/download/dropbox/For_Sara/SARAT04.WAV

I miss you so much Abba. God how pissed off I am that you left me! Did you know I had a whole weekend planned to hang out with you the day you left? I wanted to share all my wedding plans with you. I wanted you to get caught up in the joy of it all too, hoping it might lift you out of your own sorrow. My therapist says knowing I was getting married must have meant you knew your little girl would be ok and would be taken care of. But didn't you know that I still needed you too? I still need my Abba. I love you so much. I will always be your little saralala, your te-no-kit. Thank you so much for being my dad.
-Sara

Mountain Democrat News Obituary

http://www.mtdemocrat.com/story.php?id=901.11

William K. Gallagher, Ph.D., 68, died April 4, 2008, in Alameda, Calif. A speaker and an author, William was a 15-year member of the community in Diamond Springs.

Born Jan. 27, 1940, in Los Angeles, to his parents Leonard W. Gallagher and Sally Roberts Gallagher, William “Bill” Gallagher spent his early years in Los Angeles and graduated from Santa Monica High School in 1958. Befriending many of the entertainment industry elite of the time, Bill sang with an early incarnation of the famous group Jan and Dean and wrote a few of their songs. From an early age Bill was gifted with language and passionate about world cultures and travel.

Following high school, Bill attended BYU, Utah, where he earned a BA in Political Science and Language in 1964. During this time, he also served a mission in Brazil for the LDS Church from 1960-62. Bill then attended the University of Utah Law School in 1964 before starting a career with the CIA that spanned over a decade during the Vietnam War. During this time, he also worked for New York Life Insurance in both Los Angeles and Honolulu, and later for Beneficial Life Insurance in Honolulu. These positions provided him with the means to pursue his passion for travel and to raise his family internationally. They lived throughout the world, predominantly in Switzerland, Spain, and Israel. In each location he enrolled his children in local schools to learn the language and culture.

Pursuing his passion for education, Bill earned a master’s degree in Linguistics from the University of Hawaii in 1971 and a Ph.D. in Psychology from Walden University, Florida, in 1976. Bill was also a professor at BYU, Hawaii, from 1973-77, and at the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, from 1977-79.

In the 1980s Bill was back in the U.S. working for Control Data Corp. He soon founded a computer education company, Computers Simplified Inc., whose clients included many Fortune 500 companies. He was featured in the Wall Street Journal and Time Magazine and on several television news segments for his fast success.

Bill later led seminars on his “mind map” design and the psychology of marketing. In 1992 he authored the New York Times best seller Guerrilla Selling, and spent the next decade leading Guerrilla Selling seminars for businesses around the world. During this time, he continued his focus on sales and marketing, teaching at California State University Sacramento, in 1998 and earning his MBA in 1999.

Bill’s passions included surfing, sailing, skiing, theology, travel, language, fly-fishing, music, reading and writing. But his main focus in life was his family.

Bill is survived by his father, Leonard, his sister, Laurie Brown, his children, David Kier, William Jr., Robert, Thomas, Sara, and Nathaniel, and by seven grandchildren.

A memorial was held in his honor on April 11, at the Temple Israel Sanctuary in Alameda, Calif. His ashes were scattered in the San Francisco Bay, where he loved to sail with his children.

Fi Fi Le Mu

Today I was thinking about the song Abba taught us at Granny and Grandpa's 50th wedding anniversary. I thought maybe I could find a version of it on the internet, but now I'm wondering if he didn't make it up?

I remember gathering for our family luau in Big Bear, where we all did something to entertain each other. I remember directing Nate, Alison and Amy to do this dance to "I Heard it Through the Grapevine" (So I'm making that the next song of the day). I remember grandpa put on a grass skirt and danced the hula.

And I also remember Abba teaching us this Polynesian song, with a long explanation of how it so appropriately matched granny and grandpa's marriage and gave keys for the reason it had lasted those 50 years. (Isn't there video of this somewhere?)

I think the song went like this:

Sao va-le va-le, means go for a walk
Tao tala tala, means too much talk
Alisa i'ahte' oi, means I love you
Take it easy, fi fi le mu.

You Are My Sunshine

Today's song of the day is "You Are My Sunshine." It's one of the first songs I remember him singing to me as a little girl. I remember being in a small row boat with him while he sang to me. I believe we were in a park or zoo (I think I was around 3 or 4). This song continued to be a special song for me throughout my life and has always made me think of Abba. -Sara

YouAreMySunshine.mp3

Rob's Favorite Photo of Dad

"When I think of him in my mind, this is what he always looks like, because I carried this photo of him with me for decades now.
Which is why I was always surprised when I saw him in person at how much he aged! :)"
-Rob Gallagher

Honoring Bill

Dear Gallagher Family:

I wanted to send flowers to Bill Gallagher's grave, but found out that he was placed into the San Francisco Bay.

Moki told me a story that his father told him when they were together in Frankfurt, Germany in 1992. Bill told Moki that the Main River in Frankfurt Germany where they were standing connected to the Rheine River that connected to the sea, then to the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean which connected to the San Francisco Bay and eventually to his house in Diamond Springs, California. Moki asked his father what he was trying to say, and Bill said that we are all connected in this water world.

Frankfurt, Germany
Diamond Springs, California

Moki told me that I could honor Bill by placing Chrysanthemum Flower - Kiku in a river by my house in Shimane, Japan. The lake is called Shinji Lake, then the lake connects to Nakaumi River which goes out to the Japan Sea, from there into the Pacific Ocean and finally to San Francisco Bay where Bill Gallagher was laid to rest.

Shimane, Japan
Bill Gallagher Burial at Sea

My thoughts go out to Bill. He was a friend and a great teacher in my life. Bill asked me once before I went on my mission with the Mormon Church what I planned to do on my mission; I told him that I would do good missionary work. Bill told me, in order to do great missionary work, you should start by feeling the spirit in your heart. You should be a great spiritual teacher, and then missionary work will come naturally. Moki said that being what you want, leads to doing what you want, and finally will have the best result with the least amount of effort. That is what Bill was teaching. Moki said the idea comes from Zen Buddhism. Bill taught Moki, like he taught me, that most people go about doing things in life in order to have something, which lets them be something. But it was much easier to choose to be a certain way so that the doing came naturally with the least amount of effort.

The Gallagher family is very dear to our family in Japan. We talk about your family all the time.

Your Family are in our prayers.

With Love,
Sachiko Sota
Shimane Japan

A Letter From Sachiko to Rob

4/27/08 6:04:36 AM
Dear Bobby

Thank you very much for your mail. It's good to hear from you.
I'm sad to hear the news which Bill Gallagher passed away.
It is difficult to believe it.
But I believe we can meet him in the next world.

Bobby Could you give me a favor?
Moki taught me the Pauline's phone number, but it didn't work.
The operator said this number isn't available.
If you know her phone number, will you please let me know it.
I would like to call her.
Also I tried to call Moki few times, it didn't work.
It was answering machine. So I left the message.
If you don't mind, will you please tell me your phone number?
I'd like to talk to you.

With love,
Candy Sachiko Gallagher (Sachiko Sota) Bill and Pauline named me.

Letter from Sachiko

From: Sachiko Sota
Sent: Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:57 am

Thank you for sending me the mail. I'm sorry when you called me, I wasn't home.
I had been in OKINAWA for our business trip. I came back home last night. I read your mail.
It was so sad to know the news. It made me so sad. It's hard to believe this news.
It is too young to go to the spiritual world. He is only only 68 years old. I can't believe it.

My husband said he had a phone call someone from America. American lady called me, he said
I wasn't home and would come back home on 24th. This phone call was to tell me this sad news wasn't it?

When I think about Bill I have so many wonderful good memories which comes out in my mind like
a slideshow with Gallagher's family. When I saw a lot of pictures in the website I can hear his laughing voices.
Also I can hear his singing voice, "Sachi, Sachi, ko, ko, ko." He always teased me a lot, but it was fun.
We enjoyed a lot. He was good at to make a cheerful atmosphere.

I respect him as a good teacher and a good father.

I'm sorry I can't write anymore. The tear comes out, and doesn't stop.
It's so sad. I pray for the repose of Bill's soul.

Please say to everybody cheer up.

With love,
Sachiko Sota

International Marketing Conference in Istanbul, 2004

This was a brief video I shot on my camera of Abba speaking in Istanbul, Turkey. I didn't capture the whole talk because I wanted to take some stills as well. -Sara

Business Bio as a "Guerrilla" Author

Found on: http://www.gmarketing.com/authors/bgallagher.html
Bill Gallagher, Ph.D.

Over 500,000 business and salespeople have invested in Bill "Guerrilla" Gallagher's Guerrilla Selling: (Unconventional Weapons & Tactics for Increasing Your Sales) because they are serious about doing a lot more business with less hassle and frustration.

Since 1983, Bill Gallagher, Ph.D., has been in demand as one of the nation's leading authorities on sales, marketing and management, conducting thousands of training seminars and workshops throughout North America and Abroad. His informative commentary has been featured in such prestigious publications as The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Money and Time magazines. In addition, Bill has appeared on a host of national radio and television shows, including Good Morning America, Today, CNN Headline News, and The CBS Evening News.

Bill's reputation for innovation and quality has earned him repeat engagements with over half the companies featured in the best seller In Search of Excellence. Some of his many satisfied clients include: American Express, Bank of America, Dean Witter Reynolds, Hewlett Packard, IBM, Levi-Strauss, Nortel, National Association of Realtors, Stanford University, and Tyson Foods, Inc. Co-author in the legendary Guerrilla Business series and lead author of Guerrilla Selling, Bill has also received honors for excellence in business training from the governments of Israel, Singapore, the Netherlands, and the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Who is Bill "Guerrilla" Gallagher? Quite possibly the most entertaining and knowledgeable authority on sales, marketing, and the mysteries of the human mind available today. His recommendations are new, fresh, and guaranteed to produce spectacular results for your business!

Letter from Sandy Danziger

Another family friend, Sandy Danziger wrote to Bill today:

Dear Bill,

Thank you very much for being in contact. For your family blog I would like to say, which you may choose to use, not use, edit etc.

This very morning, before before receiving news of Bill's death, a profound lesson about right spiritual conduct that he taught me came to mind--at exactly the time when it needed to be heard. It was not the first time that Bill's voice has been heard through the years, though we have not been in contact for a long time. Bill's passion and zest for life, and his interest in virtually all things was an inspiration. He reminded me that everything is of interest if we will but take time to look, and that the important things are of the spirit. Thinking of Bill brings back smiles and memories of great times together--mostly animated discussions.

May the Gallagher family continue to grow from the legacy of their father.

Love,

Sandy Danziger

Old Friends

Auntie Laurie called this week saying she just met Fred in Santa Cruz, while out looking at the sunset. This man told her he knew our family in Hawaii, when we lived in Laie. He said our dad was extremely influential in his life. Mom confirmed that she remembered him coming over to the house and thought he was a student of dad's. Such an interesting coincidence. Fred said he regretted not tracking him down sooner.

Another old friend, I spoke to Yael in Israel. She was sad to hear of his passing and wanted updates on the family. She said she would put his name in the wall when they visited the kotel this week.

Dov sent me an email:
Hi Sara.
We are sorry to hear about Bill's passing away. Please send us his Hebrew name, if he had one, and we will put a notice at the kotel when we will visit there again probably during Passover. Send us also your phone number and address. Or you can call us. Remember there is a 10 hour difference in time. Yael would like to know how you are doing?
Best wishes.
Dov & Yael

Thinking about these friends got me wondering how many more people around the world have been influenced by him, and who might like to know about his passing. I thought of Sachiko in Japan, but she was not home when I called. I feel I really want to reach out to these people to better understand who my dad was to them. How best to tell them he's gone? I'm not so sure Hallmark has a card for this.

First Passover without Abba

Passover has been strange without Abba. This morning I woke up thinking I wanted to call him to wish him a happy passover. At Bill's house we used the Haggadah that Abba made, with pictures of Jack and Sophie. I kept thinking how sweetly he put it together, like so many of the projects he's done for us over the years. It was hard to have him absent from the table

Rob sent out this song thinking of Abba tonight (who really loved the Beatles):

InMyLife.mp3

In My Life by The Beatles

There are places I remember
all my life
Though some have changed
Some forever, not for better
Some have gone and some remain.

All these places have their moments
Of lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I loved them all.

And with all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new
And I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them.
In my life I loved you more.

And I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them.
In my life I loved you more
In my life I loved you more

Down To a River by Connie Kaldor

The words to this song was posted on email today.
I found it very beautiful and think it echoes my feelings as I mourn.
It also reminded me of my mom, who planted a tree in Abba's honor
because he planted trees all over the world.
I think today I will plant a tree. -Sara


DownToARiver.mp3



Down To a River by Connie Kaldor

There are dinners, there's music
There is laughter there were tears
There are memories that go back
Over the years
There are the marks made in a life
Like only good friends do
Now I must choose to make a mark
For the things I loved in you

CHORUS:
I'll go down to a river
And plant a tree
Something strong, wild and living
Those are my memories
And I'll go up to a mountain
And sing to the stars
Can you hear me
Where ever you are.

And there's phone calls and there's crying
And there's clutching to the chest
And there's singing songs and throwing dirt
And laying down to rest
And there's carving words on stone
And making church bells ring
But the river when it freezes over
Still thaws and runs each spring

So I will go down to a river
And plant a tree
Something strong, wild and living
Those are my memories
And I'll go up to a mountain
And sing to the stars
Can you hear me
Where ever you are.

Do you hear the ones who loved you
And who were glad they knew you well
Do the hearts you left that miss you
Ring like a bell

I will go down to a river
And plant a tree
Strong, wild and living
Those are my memories
And I'll go up to a mountain
And sing to the stars
Can you hear me
Where ever you are

Can you hear me
Can you hear me
Can you hear me
Where ever you are

Burial at Sea

Our father was a sailor. It was clear to us that we should take him sailing one last time in one of the bays he loved. We placed his ashes in the water at 14:48 on April 11 2008.

Bill writes: We scattered him to the bay and committed his remains to the currents.
Bay currents carry water in and out of the bay daily and the currents outside the bay run down the coast and around the world. He would have loved the day and will now be forever traveling the world with the sea.

Robb Kane wrote down the GPS coordinates for us:
37 deg 50.132 min N
122 deg 22.799 min W

Nate found the coordinates on Google map:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=37.835533333333,+-122.3799833333333&ie=UTF8&ll=37.839072,-122.396622&spn=0.26083,0.547943&z=11&iwloc=addr


Metric GPS:
37.83553333, -122.37998333

Bill Gallagher Sr. Eulogy 1/27/1940-4/4/2008 by Bill Jr.

Bill Gallagher Sr. Eulogy 1/27/1940-4/4/2008

My dad was my best friend growing up and I was his best friend too.

He was an endless source of fun and adventure.

My dad taught me to surf and to sail. He took me snorkeling, and showed me how to use a spear gun. He took us camping and he was my scoutmaster. I became an Eagle Scout because my dad supported me, and encouraged me not to give up when it was no longer “Cool” to be a Boy Scout.

When I was about 10, my dad created a private “science lab” for me in a large closet just above the door of his office at the university. I would sit up there, playing with my experiments and watching my dad work. It was a special time that I will never forget.

When I got picked on in school, and when it seemed that I had no friends, my dad was the one I talked to, and the one who let me know that my life would turn out and the pain would soon pass.

I was born in Los Angeles but we moved and traveled my whole life. We lived in Hawaii, Barcelona, Zurich, Jerusalem, San Diego, and here in the Bay Area. We also traveled beyond these cities to fascinating destinations from North Africa to Norway, all over Europe, through Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, and to places like the Blarney Stone in Ireland.

I had a rich and exciting childhood because of my dad, and his passion for life.

It was important to my dad to be someone that I could talk to about anything, at any time. He always said that we should be friends for life, and that he would never shut me out or put any distance between us.

He tried so hard to be the best dad that he could, taking everything he loved about his dad, and adding everything he remembered wanting as a child.

I am always thinking of the love and fun that my dad was for me, as I struggle with being the best dad that I can be for my kids.

In July of 1969, when I was just 5 years old and we were living in Honolulu, my dad woke me up to watch something special on TV. He said that I would remember this moment for the rest of my life. It was one small step for man and one giant leap of inspiration for a young boy. My dad said that I too could do that when I grew. He wanted me to know that I could be anything I wanted in life.

That was my dad. I love him very much and I will miss him.

Eulogy of Grandpa Bill by Jack (10 years old)

In his final years his life was hard, depressing and unforgiving, needless to say, he is happier and at peace now. But we shouldn’t forget the earlier years that were inspirational to us all.

He loved his us all so much and left this world with a note telling us to live the best lives we can. We all miss him so much and I truly believe his spirit, rid of whatever was clouding its mind thought, “Aw crap, what did I just do.”

What I loved most about my grandpa was that whenever he came over he always had something to do, like puzzles, riddles, or just plain mind boggling mysteries that would start long and interesting conversations.

All I ask is that you think of the lesson his life taught because to uncover the lesson is to uncover the lifetime.

Sara's Eulogy: My Abba Was An Amazing Father

I called him Abba, which means “daddy” in Hebrew.

My Abba was an amazing father. He gave me the world, and desire to make a difference in it. He challenged me, supported me and believed in everything I did. Recently, he told me how happy he was that he had “pushed” me toward my profession, because he knew that I would always be self sufficient because of it.

He was proud of me and let me know it. He would never let me talk down about myself. Even in our last conversation together, he wanted me to understand that, though each of us has “stuff to work on,” we are all perfect, whole and complete just the way we are.

This one last lesson was a powerful one and has already begun to change my view of the world.

Throughout my life he gave me many more lessons as well:
A love of the outdoors, dance, music and song.
An appreciation of cultures, language and history.
A desire for knowledge and understanding.

It may take me a lifetime to understand the man he was and the legacy he left behind.

I will greatly miss him. He was my best friend.

I will miss songs he sung to me throughout my life. Especially: Sara, Bat Chiam. Boy Boy Boy ET, (which means: Sara, daughter of William, come to me).

But I will miss our daddy dates together the most. In going through my pictures and files of him this week, I found an essay I wrote when I was a little girl, about one of our many daddy dates together:

SAILING WITH ABBA

b y

Sara Gallagher

In the summer of 1987, 1 went to visit my Dad in California, I call him "Abba." He lives on the San Francisco Bay Area on a beautiful 30-foot sailboat. It was a beautiful Sunday. The sun was shining. The sky was deep baby blue and a light breeze was blowing.

My Dad and I went outside to prepare the boat for sail. When we were
ready, we said goodbye and then set sail. The boat glided out into the
harbor. I took hold of the wheel while my Abba put up the sail. We
headed for a bridge and maintained that course. The wind blew through my
hair and past my face, making me feel free as the birds above me.

We sailed around Angel Island, and headed toward the Golden Gate Bridge. I
saw a seal bobbing her head in and out of the water. The seal had
smooth, gray skin that --when the sun hit it just right-- made the water
on its skin sparkle.

The winds grew stronger as we neared the Golden Gate. Abba went to check on something while I took control of the the wheel. A gust of wind hit the sail and something snapped. The boat was "rails under" and rocking furiously. I didn't know what to do. I felt frightened and helpless. The sun went behind what seemed to be an endless cloud. The boat was being tossed around in the great waves and Abba finally came out and took charge. A line, which supported the mast, had snapped and we had to head home.

The sun came out and assured me that everything was going to be all right. On the way back, we sailed close by San Francisco and waved to all the people we saw. We also saw some fish jump out of the water. When we got back we secured the boat and watched a gorgeous sun set.
I was glad to be back home. I was tired and it had been a long day. I slept soundly. Although it has been over a year since we sailed together, I still dream about that day on the Bay with Abba.

October 11, 1988


And I will continue to dream about that day and will keep you in my heart Abba, forever sailing.

Ani Ohevet Otcha Abbalele Shalie.

May the road rise up to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
And the rains fall soft upon your fields,
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

- Author unknown

Dad’s Eulogy by Rob

I could talk all day about my dad, and all week too, but I’ve been asked to keep it down to a few minutes, so here’s what I can say:

From an early age, I remember how warm and cuddly he was with me. He was never cold or stern like some dads. Just always very loving. Always there for a hug and a kiss. He loved to hold my hand as we walked (I remember my hand was too small so I held his finger and we both liked that). He loved to wrestle with us boys, or practice circus tricks on the floor; with me balancing on his feet or hands. He always caught me. He was amazing, and I always felt we had a special love for each other. A powerful bond unlike any I’ve seen with other fathers and their kids.

Of course I looked up to him. And of course he was my hero. But as I grew up, I realized he was everyone else’s hero too. From my teachers, to other parents, everyone looked up to him, and was charmed by his good looks, warmth, intelligence and personality. He walked and talked with a swagger that said LEADER from miles away. People gravitated towards his confidence and laugh. People loved him. And he did it all without even trying. The coolest, most interesting guy in the world, and none of it was ever intentional or an act. It simply was who he was. He was just living his life and every step was a new adventure for him. He loved life more than anyone I know.

He wasn’t the type to stay in one country for very long, let alone one job. He was a rolling stone. Once he conquered something it would be time to move on to the next challenge. He was a bit of a pioneer or pirate. An original through and through. And I don’t think there will ever be another like him again. I knew from a young age that I would never be half the man he was. I don’t know anyone who is. But I feel very honored to have been his son and watched him live. As a pirate of sorts, it seemed he had no central goal in life. No driving ambition to reach the top of some industry like some leaders. He had no interest in building wealth or saving money. Instead he just wanted to sail the seas of life in search of adventure. To live out each day to the fullest and to experience and feel life as much as he could each and every day. People excited him, not material things. And his greatest treasure and passion and love was his children, hands down. He adored us and cherished every moment with us.

Growing up I would always beam with pride and tell my friends in each new country we lived that I had the greatest dad in the world. It’s not such an uncommon boast kids make to each other. The difference was that I was sure of it. And the surprise always came that my friends would always agree with me. How sad that other kids would say your dad is better than theirs. Well they always did and I was proud as hell. He was great man for sure. He was fascinating. He seemed to know everything you could possibly ask him. He was like an encyclopedia and a joy to talk with about any subject. He had friends all around the world who deeply love him and would probably be here today if they knew. I think it’s better that they don’t.

He lived an extremely full life full of passion and adventure and love. He was always there for me, whether it be for advice or comfort over the phone, or to come running when I really needed him there. I’ll never forget the times he flew to take care of me when I was sick and needed him. It wasn’t uncommon for him to come to my rescue. He was the kind of guy who would give you the shirt off his back if you happened to complimented it. He often did that with me. I would say that’s a nice shirt without thinking and he would smile and give it to me. And he would give you the last dollar in his wallet if you asked for it. Even if he needed it more, he would still give it with a smile and never let you know it was his last dollar. He loved people and he loved his own children unlike anything I’ve ever heard of. We were a very close family. I would say we were a legendary family. Other families envied how close we were and all the adventures we went on living around the world.

I never thought I would have to say goodbye to him. I always thought he would live forever. I remember as far back as a child saying that if my dad ever died they would have to lock me up. That’s how much I knew I loved him. But the one thing he taught me well was how to be a great father and now my main goal in life is to be a great father to my son too. I thank him for that, and so will my son one day. When my son tells me I’m a great dad, I’ll say, thank your grandpa.

I love you dad. I know you’re sitting in heaven in Granny’s kitchen with Dinah and all your relatives and Granny is making some amazing meal. I can’t wait to see you again someday after I've done my job as a dad. Until then I’ll miss our weekly phone calls the most. Thank you for our last trip to Hawaii together. I think we both knew that was the last trip and it was very powerful seeing our old home where we spent our best years and soaring together through the clouds on gliders. I imagine you’re probably doing a lot of soaring now. Thank you for an amazing life and for raising me to be who I am. I will honor your memory by doing the same for my son. God bless you and our entire family.

Tom's Funeral Dedication for Abba

My father, Bill Gallagher’s favorite authors (whom he would quote so often in his keynote speaking) were Henry David Thoreau, Helen Keller, George Bernard Shaw, Werner Erhard and Shakespeare.

Thoreau once described, "The mass of mankind” as leading “lives of quiet desperation." While this was true of my father’s life as well, he believed more in the words of Helen Keller who said, "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature." and that "All the world is full of suffering. It is also full of overcoming."

In the 80's he was very inspired by a man named Werner Erhard who got many great idea's from Zen Buddhism, Werner said, "If you experience it, it’s the truth. The same thing believed is a lie. In life, understanding is the booby prize."

My father would often quote Shakespeare about the human condition written hundreds of years ago, "To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, creeps in this petty pace from day to day. To the last syllable of recorded time, and all our yesterdays have lighted fools. The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more: it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."

Of all these authors, my father most believed in and lived his life like the words of George Bernard Shaw, who said:
"This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community, and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no "brief candle" for me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations."

Forgive all those you know. Love all those you meet, and make a difference in life while you’re here. Each moment is worth everything!

The only real truth is what we experience in the present moment, and dad taught me that always showing up and loving unconditionally was what it was all about.

Life Timeline

The following was a time line William created in 2000 to help us all track the many events, travel and careers of his life:

William K. Gallagher, Sr. My Life
Hi, Family, Some of you have asked, so I thought you might want to put some things together from my and your past... There may be some errors. This is all from memory, please correct and return.

1940 born Jan 27 in Santa Monica
1941 WWII in Santa Monica
1942 memories of AA gun fire
1943 Pre-School in West LA
1944 1st Grade Nora Sterry
1945 w/ my Roberts GParents
1946 w/ my Gallagher GParents
1947 Westchester House, Laurie born
1948 Burnham St. House, TV
1949 Brentwood School

1950 Brentwood School
1951 Brentwood School
1952 Emerson Jr. High, met Ron C.
1953 Emerson Jr. High
1954 University H.S., Khans
1955 University H.S. YCC Annalee
1956 First Car 41 Mercury $25.
1957 Grad H.S. 1st job TI, (David)
1958 not to Stanford, to BYU
1959 1st to Hawaii, to Brazil

1960 Brazil, teaching English
1961 Brazil to BYU, 1st CIA mtg
1962 BA BYU 63 Pre-Law-Language
1963 Married Polly, Law School UUt
1964 Bill Jr born, Max Factor, Disney
1965 NY Life Ins, sold $1 million
1966 Rob born, move to Honolulu
1967 Beneficial Life Mgr.
1968 LR&I, part owner, Tom born
1969 LR&I Real Estate, Stocks, Ins

1970 LR&I Real Estate, Stocks, Ins
1971 UH MA TESL, to Europe
1972 ESL Switzerland, Spain
1973 UCSD, Linguistics
1974 BYU-Hawaii, ESL, Spanish
1975 BYU-Hawaii, ELI Chair, Ling. Sara born, to Asia w/ Polly
1976 PhD Walden Univ. Minn.
1977 Ministry of Ed. Israel, Chair
1978 Shein College, Heb Univ/ J'Iem
1979 Nate born, back to USA

1980 UC, Berkeley/ Sec. 1st Group
1981 Control Data, divorced Pauline
1982 Control Data, married Deborah
1983 Computers Simplified, IBM
1984 Computers Simplified, Stanford
1985 Computers Simplified, H-P
1986 Computers Simplified, Holland
1987 Gallagher & Assoc., public sem
1988 Divorced Deborah, sailed south
1989 San Diego, dating, seminars

1990 met Dee Dee, seminars
1991 Married Dee Dee, hm to Brazil
1992 Published Guerrilla Selling
1993 Guerrilla Sales & Marketing
1994 GS&M Brazil, Hong Kong etc.
1995 GS&M Hawaii, Manila, Singapr
1996 Thailand. Column in Bus Jrnl
1997 Ecuador.0/Phoenix, Jack born
1998 Costa Rica, CSUS mkt prof
1999 Maui, Golden Gate Univ/MBApr

2000 FT College Professor (?)
2001 The New Millennium
2002 ...

Good-bye Beloved Wordsmith:

A tribute to the life of William Kneeland Gallagher
1940-2008

With our cell phones heralding his passing early this morning, we all said good-bye to our dear friend, father and brother, William Kneeland Gallagher. Like someone who hangs-up on you unexpectedly during a very important call, Bill left us to wonder the how and the why? A man bent on experiencing life to its absolute fullest, Bill stumbled on several realities of late, never really regaining his footing in life.

In his prime, Bill wowed students with his ability to teach and with his wealth of knowledge, audiences with his charisma, and readers with his ability to use words to tell his story. Like Hemingway and Jim Morrison, however, the flash of greatness experienced in his early years, ended tragically by his own hand, and much too early.

In some cultures it is the highest honor to take one’s own life when that life doesn’t match-up to prior expectations. Whether Bill planned his exit or not, I will always believe he felt this ending to be an honorable way to preserve his memory, his place in all our hearts.

Bill Gallagher Sr. will always be to me a communicator of intelligent thought, a source of unconditional love and fun, but unfortunately one who flew too close to the Sun, leaving us to look back on his life prematurely and regrettably.

I, for one, choose to remember Bill for his many accomplishments and the tremendous, loving family that he leaves behind, always with the hope that he is up there right now having tea with Sally and discussing a book that he has just read.

God bless you Bill, forever. Amen.

Uncle Bob and Aunt Laurie

Good Bye Dad, Thank you for the world you shared with us

Dear Family & Friends:

"I truly get that all I have and all that any of us have is the truth of our experience, then I step out of survival behavior and into a related process with others and the world. " -Mak (Passionate Genius Blog, 2008) http://passionategenius.blogspot.com/2008/03/genius-transforming-economy.html


This is the greatest insight in life, thank you for sharing it. Even with this understanding, we still fall back into the matrix; our assumptions continue to take control. We are bio monkey redundant robots that have to make meaning. That is what memory and thought is, its the half truth that we must run our lives by. Although most of our assumption have very little to do with our present possible future. Still knowing this helps me to let my past go as often as possible, and limit my assumptions in the present moment.

I go to meditate now to let go of the suffering of life.

My father at the age of 68, after an amazing life, took his life. I know that his bi-polar condition ran his life to extremes; at age 65 he got a diagnosis and was attempting medication, but the drinking mixes bad with these medications. The depressions lows probably were too much for him. At last his suffering has come to an end, he is at peace, and with any hope, if the spirit goes on after death, he is in a better place. He will live on through his children, as we experience the truth of joy and suffering in each precious moment that life gives us.

Forgive all those you know, love all those you meet, and make a difference in life while your here, each moment is worth everything.

I have uploaded a Power Point file that shows the latest pictures of the earth, my father gave us the world growing up, later he would give each of us a globe to remind us of this great world that is ours to share and make the best of in our brief moment in time on the planet. Take care of each other and take care of this great planet with live on!

I uploaded the world power point file to the file section of each yahoo group, please take a moment to view it. http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/REJonesFamily/files/ BLUEBEAUTY1. pps

Amote,
Thomas Gallagher

William Kneeland Gallagher 1940-2008

I'm creating this blog as a memorial to my Abba. He died on the night of April 4th, 2008. His life was cut too short and I still want to know him better. I want to know the stories of his life. He traveled the world and touched many lives. If you knew him, please share your memories here.

Ani ohevet o'tcha abbale shalie me'od me'od leolam vo'ed.
Sara