Terrence "Terry" P. Gallagher

The Patriarch of the Gallagher Family, Terrence Patrick Gallagher Sr. "Terry", passed away peacefully, of natural causes, on the beautiful fall morning of October 28th at his home in Boulder. As was the tradition of many things in his life he was surrounded by family, great stories, music and many prayers.

Terry was the seventh son and eighth child of proud Irish parents, John and Izah Gallagher. Born March 7, 1934, on the family dairy farm north of Boulder, which was also part of the old Boulder Oilfield, he spent the next 60 years there growing up and later raising his own family on the Gallagher Farm. A very proud and committed lifelong Catholic, he was baptized as an infant at Sacred Heart of Jesus in Boulder.

Terry spent several early school years at Pleasant View Elementary before attending Sacred Heart School through junior high and from there became a Boulder High Panther, proudly wearing his purple and gold to the end. Terry played football and wrestled at BHS and stayed on top of his farm chores like milking the cows twice a day and working on the family oil wells. These early years developed the unmatched work ethic that he would utilize through his life that was common in his generation. It was also at BHS that Terry would pursue his future wife, a cute girl in his class, Nancy Popst! Terry attended the University of Colorado focusing on finance and accounting. He also became a Buff fan for life as a student at CU.

Terry and Nancy began dating in 1952 and committed their love and lives to each other and God by marrying on August 20, 1955, at Saint Thomas Aquinas church on The Hill in Boulder where they were active in the Newman Club. Father Charles Forsythe celebrated the nuptials. (Ironically Nancy's family was the reverse of Terry's with 7 sisters and one brother!) This union produced five children: Kathleen Ann, Terrence Patrick Jr., Michael John, Mary Patricia and Daniel Thomas. Terry and Nancy were married 58 years before Nancy's death in 2014.

Terry began his professional career in 1956 at Oriental Refining, a small, vertically integrated oil company that was in the business of exploration, production, refining, fuel trading and retail fuel sales. While ownership changed several times through the years, the company eventually was owned by a public company and in the early 70's Terry became president of Asamera Oil U.S. He continued in this position until 1984 when he purchased the retail arm of the company, Gasamat.

1984 begat the Gallagher Family business that would evolve from Gasamat and 95 retail fuel locations to real estate and fuel, tobacco and liquor stores in 13 states with nearly 350 stores becoming one of the largest family businesses in Colorado and the largest family business in Boulder County. Terry was very proud that company grew into its third generation with 8 family members involved in management. Terry was inducted into the Boulder County Business Hall of Fame in 2014.

During his business career Terry was very involved in both state and national trade organizations as a member and often serving on the boards of directors. He was the president of the American Petroleum Refiners Association (APRA), Colorado and Wyoming Petroleum Marketers Association (CWPMA), and the Denver Oilman's Club (DOC). He also served on the boards of the Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America (SIGMA), APRA, CWPMA, Colorado National Bank, and Smoker Friendly International. He was a member of the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), California Independent Oil Marketers (CIOMA), the Pacific Oil Conference (POC), National Association of Tobacco Outlets (NATO), and the Premium Cigar Association (PCA). In 1989 he was the Denver Oilman's Club "Oilman of the Year" and in 1993 received CWPMA's "Distinguished Service Award." Terry was honored for 50 years in the industry in 2006 and continued to work for another 20 years achieving nearly 70 years in the industry!

Socially Terry belonged to the Boulder Country Club, where he had many friends, the Denver Petroleum Club, the Denver Club, and was a charter member of the Glenmoor Country Club, Red Lodge Golf Club, Singletree Golf Club, and Fox Acres Golf Club. He was a member of the Boulder Elks Lodge 566 for 70 years.

In 1956 Terry and Nancy bought an old house that was on the expanding CU campus (where Wardenburg sits today) and moved it to a plot of land on the family farm. They refinished it with their lifelong friends and neighbors, the Lousberg brothers, and moved their growing family into the house in 1957. They remained in this house (with many remodels, additions and upgrades) for over 40 years before moving to a smaller home in Gunbarrel near BCC. Terry traded his tractors for a golf cart! Through the years Terry and Nancy were fortunate enough to have homes in Edwards, CO; Scottsdale, AZ; and Fox Acres at Red Feathers, CO.

Despite a very heavy work schedule Terry was very involved in his Catholic Parish and children's Catholic School. He (and Nancy) was the volunteer Sacred Heart Athletic Director 15 years. He pushed to add to the successful boys basketball program and succeeded in developing the girls basketball and volleyball teams. This program sent numerous boys and girls to successful careers at Boulder, Fairview, Holy Family, Regis, Monarch, Centaurus, Niwot, and Mullen high schools and many went on to play in college and some the pros!

When his own children played, he and Nancy spent hours driving them to gyms across the state. When the boys played college basketball, they traveled around the country to watch them. As their grandchildren and great grandchildren began to participate in youth, high school and college sports they spent many weeknights and weekends in the stands cheering them on. Terry had a passion for watching all these kids compete.

Terry served on the Sacred Heart Parish Council and School Board numerous times through the years. He and Nancy also served as Homeroom Couples multiple times at Sacred Heart as their five children progressed through school. He was devoted to Sacred Heart and gave his time, talent and tithe generously in many different ways until his death. In 2025 Sacred Heart Church and School honored Terry at their annual Mayfair as the recipient of the first ever "Pride of Sacred Heart" award. This award was very meaningful to Terry and he cherished it.

Terry was a member of SERRA International for over 50 years. He loved that ordinary Catholics, with a passion for vocations, worked around the globe creating and promoting events for vocation within the church and having interactions with clergy in many ways. Terry was an International Trustee in 1996 and 1997. Terry was also a member of the Knights of Columbus through Sacred Heart for over 50 years and was very active in the organization as a younger man.

While Terry started his professional career in 1956, he continued to work on the farm daily milking cows twice a day until 1962. When he and his brother Bill and their mother Izah made the decision to sell the last of the Gurnsey dairy cows they turned around and built a herd of Angus and Hereford cows and began crossbreeding beef cattle. The three would partner until Bill's untimely death from an auto accident on the Boulder Denver Toll Road in 1967. Terry and his mom would continue to partner until she died in 1975. Terry continued to work the herd until the mid 1980's when he sold the last of the cattle. Through all those years Terry and Nancy involved all their children in working around the farm and on the remaining four oil wells that always needed to be pumped and serviced.

When the children became of age they were 4-H members showing sheep and cattle at the Boulder County Fair, other surrounding county fairs, the National Western Stock Show and the Colorado State Fair. Terry was very involved with his children and jumped into the management of these agricultural organizations serving on the Boulder County Fair Board and the National Western Stock Show Board for many years. He supported many 4-H and FFA members through his company as a buyer at all the junior auctions and always donated animals back to support the scholarship programs.

In 1957 Terry and a group of his neighbors established and were charter members of the Boulder Rural and Suburban Fire Department and built the first firehouse at the southeast corner of 28th street and Iris just outside the city limits. Terry served in all the officer positions including Fire Chief several times. Terry was also a longtime board member and was instrumental in acquiring the first fire trucks and subsequent trucks for the organization now known as Boulder Rural Fire Rescue. Members of this organization were at his home in his final 24 hours to assist the family in moving Terry. It seems appropriate that the circle was complete!

In 2022 a new love came into Terry's life, Mary Pat Powers, an Irish Catholic from Chicago. They were married on August 6, 2022. While they only enjoyed a few short years together they were able to travel around the US and overseas. They very much enjoyed attending CU football games and absolutely loved the CU men's basketball games, teams, and coach! MP was at Terry's side with the family when he passed.

Terry was preceded in death by his first wife Nancy, his parents, his brothers Jack, Daniel, Jim, George, Bill, and Leo, his sister Mary, his grandsons Matthew Gallagher and Hunter Britegam.

Terry is survived by his wife Mary Pat and his children Kathleen and Steve Schmieding and her children Elizabeth (Ryan) Gage and Montgomery and Fletcher; Tom (Diane) Allen and Luis and Eliana; Emilia (Andy) Salonen and Abel and Adriana; Terry Jr. (Windy) Gallagher and their children Patrick Gallagher and his son Jackson; Keelan (Zacarii) Gallagher; Colin (Cami Howard) Gallagher and their children Poppy, Cannon, and Emmy Rose; Mike (Kris) Gallagher and their children Jon (Aileen) Gallagher and son Owen; Nik (Kenzie) Britegam and son Callum; Mary Szarmach and her children Jacque (Stefan) Kobald and daughter Aurelia; Joe Szarmach; Danny Szarmach; Dana (George) and son Clayton; Dan (Rhonda) Gallagher and their children Liam and Grace.

Terry is also survived by three sisters-in-law: Rose Gallagher, Vian Gallagher, and Carol Jo (Norm) Thompson, and many loved nieces and nephews and all of their children and children's children.

Terry was truly a people person, he was the epitome of a relationship and friendship builder. As his great friend and Godson, John Meadows, said, "When he walked into a room there wasn't a stranger in it." Terry was a great husband, father, and grandfather. He was an exceptional man. He left shoes that can never be filled.

We will gather to honor and celebrate his incredible 91 years as a proud Boulder native: Viewing (Thursday 10/30) at 5:30pm at Sacred Heart of Jesus; Rosary (Thursday 10/30) at 6:00pm at Sacred Heart of Jesus; Funeral Mass (Friday 10/31) at 10:00am at Sacred Heart of Jesus with internment to follow at Mountain View Cemetery. Reception to follow at Boulder Country Club. We invite all who knew all loved Terry to join us.