Robert R. Gallagher, Jr.

Robert R. Gallagher, Jr. of Greenwood Village died on January 30, 2015 at the VA Hospital in Denver, Colorado. He was 80 years old. Bob Gallagher was born on April 7, 1934 in Pueblo, Colorado. He married his high school sweetheart, Shirley Jean Clemens, on March 22, 1952. In 1954 he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corp. While still in training, he was injured in a car accident at TwentyNine Palms California in October 1954. He was left permanently paralyzed from the waist down. He subsequently attended the University of California at Los Angeles, where he obtained a degree in Accounting. He and Shirley returned to Colorado, and he graduated from the University of Denver College of Law in 1960. He practiced law in Englewood, and later served as the City Attorney and the first municipal judge in Greenwood Village. In 1968, he was elected as the District Attorney for the 18th Judicial District (Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties). He served as District Attorney for 28 years, and is tied for the record for longest serving District Attorney in Colorado history. His tenure in public life was marked by his steadfast commitment to representing the interests of victims. Each year, the Colorado District Attorney's Council awards the Robert R. Gallagher, Jr. Prosecutor of the Year Award to the top prosecuting attorney in Colorado. Gallagher taught Criminal Justice and Constitutional Law at Arapahoe Community College, and was instrumental in the founding of the SunGate Children's Advocacy Center. Following his retirement from the DA's office in 1996, he continued to practice law for 18 more years. Bob served for many years on the Board of Directors of Craig Hospital. He was preceded in death by his mother (Martha Gallagher) and his father (Robert R. Gallagher), as well as his brother (Thomas Gallagher). He is survived by his wife of 61 years Shirley, his son Sean and his daughter Maureen, as well as six grandchildren (Rory, Caitlin, Griffin, Hale, Zane and Emmet). Memorial Service Tuesday, 1:00pm, St. Andrew United Methodist Church, 9203 S. University Blvd., Highlands Ranch, CO 80126. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Craig Hospital Foundation, 3425 South Clarkson St., Englewood, Colorado 80113. Please share your memories of Bob and condolences with his family by signing the guestbook below.