LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION mourning the death of Jay Gallagher, longtime
Gannett Bureau Chief, consummate journalist and true public servant

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is moved to publicly mourn the passing of
prominent citizens of the State of New York whose purposeful careers and
worthy endeavors have contributed to the quality and character of life
in their communities; and
WHEREAS, Jay Gallagher, the Dean of the Legislative Correspondents,
died on Monday, May 24, 2010, at the age of 63; and
WHEREAS, Born on April 30, 1947, to Joseph and Hazel Bromley Gallagher
in Beverly, Massachusetts, Jay Gallagher grew up in nearby Danvers with
his brother, Neil, and his sister, Anne; and
WHEREAS, In high school, Jay was an athlete and an avid Boston sports
teams fan, particularly, the Boston Red Sox; it was in high school he
decided to follow in the footsteps of his father and uncle who worked as
reporters and editors at newspapers in Salem and Lynn, Massachusetts;
and
WHEREAS, While attending Colby College in Maine, Jay Gallagher met the
woman who would become his wife for the next 40 years, Emily Gallagher;
he graduated in 1969, and began a legendary career in journalism when he
accepted his first reporting job with the WALTHAM NEWS TRIBUNE in Massa-
chusetts; and
WHEREAS, He then moved on to the PROVIDENCE JOURNAL in Rhode Island,
where he remained until the day he was arrested for his vociferous
participation in a work strike while on the picket line, and decided
that it was time to leave Rhode Island for New York; and
WHEREAS, After eight years at the ROCHESTER TIMES-UNION, where he was
known for his tenacious local government reporting, Jay Gallagher joined
New York Capitol Bureau's Gannett News Service, where he was named
Bureau Chief in 1989; and
WHEREAS, In this capacity, Jay Gallagher coordinated State coverage
for Gannett's eight statewide newspapers; he was admired by his
colleagues and those he mentored as well as those he covered, for his
journalistic integrity, compassion and good humor peppered with a heal-
thy cynicism, and for his relentless drive to cover all things State
government, as a form of genuine public service; and
WHEREAS, At the same time, achieving a balance in his life, Jay and
Emily Gallagher raised two beloved daughters Janice and Ellen, who
shared his love of politics and sports; as a family, the Gallaghers went
bike riding, kayaking, and cross-country skiing; furthermore, Jay never
missed his girls' athletic events or the family vacations that were
always scheduled around the New York State budgets; and
WHEREAS, An award winning print reporter, columnist, author, public-
television show panelist and statewide public radio program co-host, Jay
Gallagher was recognized for his outstanding coverage of state govern-
ment with numerous awards and accolades such as an Award for Excellence
from the New York Newspaper Association; the Outstanding Reporter Award
from the Legislative Correspondents Association; and a Beat Reporting
Award from Capitol Beat, an honor bestowed upon an individual for best
commentary by Common Cause; and
WHEREAS, In 2005, Jay Gallagher published the book that developed from
a series of in-depth news articles on State government, THE POLITICS OF
DECLINE, which chronicled how political problems have contributed to
economic decline in the State of New York; in 2009, Jay began the chron-
icle of his battle with pancreatic cancer in a blog carried by newspa-
pers across New York State; and

WHEREAS, The family of Jay Gallagher, including his beloved wife,
Emily of Delmar, New York, and his two loving daughters, Janice Gallagh-
er of Ithaca, New York, and Ellen Gallagher of Somerville, Massachu-
setts, as well as the citizens of New York State, have lost an eminent
husband, father, author, journalist, and friend; he will be deeply
missed and truly merits the grateful tribute of this Legislative Body;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Jay Gallagher, longtime Gannett Bureau Chief, consum-
mate journalist and true public servant, recognizing the significance of
his service to the people of the State of New York, and expressing its
deepest condolences to his family; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Jay Gallagher.