The UNI community recently lost an important member and philanthropist. Ed Gallagher Jr. passed away early Sunday morning, April 5, at the age of 89.

According to an article in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Gallagher passed away at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinic, surrounded by family. Gallagher had suffered a fall earlier in the week and had been in the hospital since Wednesday, April 1.

Gallagher and his late wife, Cathy, contributed to the fine arts, and helped fund construction of the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center with a donation of $1 million in 1997. Recent donations to the GBPAC included a ten-year “birthday” gift of $500,000.

The couple also supported UNI athletics. 

Gallagher, who was an attorney and a 1960 congressional candidate, enjoyed singing while accompanied by Cathy on the piano, said the Courier article. Look to the Northern Iowan for a follow-up story in the April 13 issue.