HOMER – Thomas M. Gallagher III, 46, of Homer, died Friday, Oct.19, 2012, at Cortland Regional Medical Center following a brief illness.
He was born April 4, 1966, in Norwich, the son of Thomas M. Gallagher Jr. and Kathleen L. (Lange) Gallagher. Tom was a lifelong resident of the area. After graduating from Otselic Valley Central School in 1984, he enlisted in the Navy as a medic and was honorably discharged in 1989. He then went on to work at Cortland Memorial Hospital and TLC Ambulance. Since 1995, he was employed as a firefighter/paramedic and also with Smith Ambulance.
Survivors include his mother Kathleen L. (Lange) Gallagher of Lake Alfred, Fla.; his wife Karen (Hartnett) Gallagher, and son Cullen T. Gallagher of Homer; siblings Edward (Linda) Gallagher of Huntersville, N.C., Sean (Meghan) Gallagher of Lake Alfred, Fla., and William Herbolt of Lake Alfred, Fla.; and many aunts and uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was predeceased by his father, Thomas M. Gallagher Jr.
Calling hours will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Wright-Beard Funeral Home, Cortland. The funeral will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Graveside services will be held at a later date at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to a college fund for his son Cullen at the Syracuse Fire Department Federal Credit Union, 211 Wilkinson Street, Syracuse NY 13204.