In memoriam: Br Ronald Gallagher FSC (1946 – 2025)

Brother Ronald Gallagher FSC, who had served as Secretary General of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools from 1997 to 2000, passed away in the early hours of January  4, 2025 at the age of 78. He died at Mont La Salle Holy Family Community in Napa, California, in the United States.

Brother Ronald was a member of the San Francisco New Orleans District. He was born on April 24, 1946 in Oakland, California, and grew up in Santa Cruz and Central California before entering the Novitiate on May 3, 1964, when he was just 20 years old. That same year, on 14 August, he received the habit of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. He took his first vows as a religious on August 15,  1965, and his final vows on June 4, 1972.

From his first years as a religious, he stood out for his spirit of faith and his passion for Literature and Education, as well as his commitment, closeness and affability with the communities and institutions with which he shared his Lasallian charism over almost six decades, leaving a profound educational and spiritual legacy.

He graduated with a Degree in English from Saint Mary’s in 1969. He went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Comparative Literature from California State University, San Francisco, in 1976. Subsequently, in 1990, he earned a PhD in Comparative Literature from the University of Washington in Seattle, with a focus on Irish Literature.

After completing his initial academic training, Brother Ronald taught at Saint Mary’s College High School in Berkeley and Justin-Siena High School in Napa. In the early 1980s he returned to Saint Mary’s College as an English teacher and Director of the La Salle Campus in Huntington Lake.

His years of service as Director of the University Residence, sharing with the students and, at the same time, collaborating as Deputy to the Rector, Brother Mel Anderson, meant a time of great learning that gave him a broad experience and educational leadership, which he would later extend to other areas of the Institute.

His contribution at Bethlehem University as Vice Chancellor was very significant, between 1993 and 1997 as a request of the  Superior General at that time, BrotherJohn Johnston, who also appointed him Secretary General of the Institute from 1997 to 2000, during which time he resided at the Generalate in Rome.

Upon his return to the United States in 2001, Br. Ronald was a professor of English at Saint Mary’s College before assuming its leadership from 2005-2013 as its 28^th President. Under his leadership, important processes were undertaken to strengthen Lasallian educational leadership, and the construction of several landmark buildings, including the Kalmanovitz School of Education building, and the renovation and construction of spaces for the well-being of the educational community, such as Oliver Hall, the Joseph L. Alioto Recreation Center, and the Athletics and Recreation Corridor.

Following the conclusion of this service, Br Ronald was appointed Interim President of Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory in San Francisco in 2013. In the final years of his retirement, he returned to the Saint Mary’s community and continued to support Lasallian initiatives related to mission and formation.

His human warmth, his wisdom and his vocation as an educator touched the lives of those who shared with him at different stages of his life. Those who knew him testify that “of all his titles – including Brother, Professor, President, Vice Chancellor, Resident Director, Coach and Dean – the one he enjoyed most was that of Teacher”.

With sentiments of gratitude to God for the life and legacy of Brother Ronald Gallagher, for the precious gift of his vocation, we express our heartfelt condolences to his family and to the San Francisco New Orleans District. May he rest in peace!

The funeral of Brother Ronald Gallagher FSC will be held at Saint Mary’s College Chapel, Moraga, CA, on January 17. The viewing will begin at 9:00 a.m. and the Eucharist will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. His remains will be laid to rest at Mont La Salle in Napa.

* Sources: RELAN, Lasallian District of San Francisco New Orleans and Saint Mary’s College