On Sunday, March 16, 2025 at 1:30 PM we will conduct our annual Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown New Haven, CT. Each year the Parade requests that the City of New Haven rename the streets closest to the reviewing stand at New Haven City Hall and dedicate the renaming in memory of a deceased person who has served the Greater New Haven Irish Community in a positive way. The 2025 street naming is dedicated in honor of this outstanding individual from our Irish community.

Thomas E. Gallagher Jr., Blvd.

Thomas E. Gallagher was born in New Haven, Connecticut on December 24th 1942. Tom graduated from West Haven High School in 1960 and Quinnipiac College in 1964. Tom enlisted in the U.S. Army on Oct 22,1964 as a Military Policeman. He completed basic training at Ft. Dix New Jersey and was then sent to Ft. Gordon, Georgia for Military Police Training. Upon graduation he was assigned to the 344th MP Company XIII Corps and he received his Honorable Discharge on July 19, 1970 at the rank of Sgt E-5. Tom was the consummate “Westie” and he held immense optimism for his hometown of West Haven. His community activism included memberships in Jaycees (where he served as President), Rotary Club, Knights of Columbus, Lake Phipps Association, Chamber of Commerce, and the Governor’s Foot Guard. He was a trustee of the West Haven Public Library. He volunteered for numerous city events and committees throughout his life and was active in city politics. He was most proud of his work on the West Haven Police Commission where he served for 18 years. Anyone who spent time with Tom knew that he was a true son of Eire and a piece of his heart could be found in Ireland, the Gallagher and Moore ancestral home. The music, stories, culture, green fields, majestic beauty, and pubs of his family’s homes in Westmeath, Sligo, and Wexford fed his soul. He was a proud member of the local Connecticut Irish organizations including the Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, Knights of St. Patrick, West Haven Irish American Club, Irish Cultural & Sports Association of Southern CT, and the Irish American Community Center. One of the highlights of Tom’s life was leading the parade as Grand Marshal of the Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 2000. He was also West Haven’s Irishman of the Year in 2003. Tom is survived by his partner, Donna; his daughters Traci Gallagher, Karyn Gallagher and her husband Shaun Donnelly, Aimee Gallagher and her husband Eric Ruys; his stepdaughters Elena Heitz and her husband Kurt, and Jessica Szafran and her husband Eric; his treasured grandchildren Sinead Donnelly, Helen Gallagher, Rafael Szafran, Eleanor Szafran, Liam Heitz and Corinne Heitz; the mother of his children, Doreen Gallagher and many caring family members. Church and Chapel Street will be named Thomas E. Gallagher Jr., Blvd . on March 10, 2024 in recognition of his impact on the Irish community.