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.