Benjamin F Gallagher
July 4, 1935 ~ June 18, 2015
Resided in:
Fremont, CA
Benjamin Franklin Gallagher resident of Fremont, CA July 4, 1935 – June 18, 2015.
Ben aka Big Ben to some, Uncle Ben to many) passed away peacefully on June 18 aided by many special and caring staff members at Kaiser Permanente ICU & CCU.. At his wishes no services are being held. Ben is survived by his loving wife of 60 years Thelma, his daughter Pati and son Ben Jr. Ben was preceded in death by his beautiful daughter Linda (Sissy). He has 4 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. He loved them all but Victoria and Breanna were his pride and joy.
Ben and his sister Fanny Lou were born to Perle and Fanny May Gallagher. Ben was born in Wickenburg AZ
Ben began his career as an electrician apprentice working on the Folsom dam; with the Southern Pacific RR in Roseville (where he met his wife Thelma in 1954), and in the Kerr-Magee Phillips 66 uranium mines in Grants New Mexico.
Construction of the GM plant brought Ben from Grants to Fremont in 1963. He was a self-made man with his wife Thelma as his compass. He began at the GM Plant as an electrical contractor. After being hired by GM as a full time electrician, he moved his way up the ladder becoming Chief Electrician and Administrative Manager of facilities and Engineering. After GM Closed and the plant was shut down he stayed on with 4 other employees responsible for maintaining the entire plant as GM shutdown. When GM transferred to NUMMI Ben took his first retirement. When groundbreaking for NUMMI began he was contracted to participate in the rebuild of the plant as NUMMI. When NUMMI opened Ben was hired as an electrician team member, and once again climbed the ladder to become Administrative Manager of Facilities and Engineering, responsible for all construction and maintenance and responsible for overseeing many large projects where he held perfect attendance for 30 years across both plants.
He was very proud of his children. Pati was a devoted daughter and with her mom, gave him great care during his illness and through to his death. He was proud of the role she played at Rubicon Children's Center for 23 years, where she became a lifelong role model to many children who went through her care. He was also proud to claim 3 generations in the automotive industry in Fremont, his son Ben worked for GM and NUMMI and his granddaughter Victoria worked at Tesla.
While his children Ben and Pati were growing up he was active in the Fremont community such as helping to build Marshall Field, Coaching the Giants- Fremont little league, girl scouts and PTA. As well as supporting many friends and people of the community, such as helping as a volunteer with Rubicon Children's Center, where he was a companion to the Rubicon children who knew him as Papa for 23 years.
His granddaughters carry many fond memories of the love their Papa showed them, to name only a few: their first date, their four-legged horseback rides down the hallway and the infamous SS Club whose secrets will never be shared, not even with Gramma.
Ben also had great accomplishments such as being an avid pool player and golfer and was one of the early pioneers to help develop and master the martial art of Gung Fu in the 60's & 70's. Ben was a big supporter of local Fremont establishments and made many life-long friends through his loyal patronage. It was in these establishments that he became well known for his skill at pool and liars dice and for his unique way of making a lasting impression (those that knew him will know what this means). Ben also enjoyed horse races, his weekly lottery tickets, golf and was a devoted Raiders, Giants and Warriors fan. Ben also loved and enjoyed his faithful pets Puddin, Benji, and Rascal.
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Uncle Ben was a very special cousin and friend to both Terry and I. Many good laughs were had on the patio, and on the way to the horse races. One of Terry’s fondest memories is the day he and Ben took our new vehicle in for servicing while we were in California. Terry soon belonged to that special club Ben had. They were gone for several hours, neither one of them told us where they had been but chuckled to themselves the rest of the time we were there.
I am really happy that I was there to be with Ben and the family just days before he passed. I will always remember how proud he was of his family, how strong willed he was , never wavering even at the last. We feel privileged to have known and loved him. May he rest in peace with Sissy, grandpa and grandma.
Our deepest sympathy to Thelma, Pati,Benny and family
Love Terry, diane and family