Michael Galligan
July 05, 2012
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Service Details
Michael James Galligan, 69, passed away on Thursday, July 5, 2012. Services will be held at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines. The funeral service will be held on Tuesday, July 10 at 10:00 a.m., with visitation Monday, July 9 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Michael was born in Syracuse, NY, but grew up in Long Island, NY, parts of Illinois, and Appleton, WI. He graduated from Drake University and attended Law School at the University of California, Boalt Hall in Berkley, CA, graduating in 1967. Michael then served his country as a Captain in the US Air Force JAG Corps from 1968-1971.
He settled in Des Moines, IA, in 1971, establishing a successful law practice. He served his clients with honesty, integrity and grace. Despite all of his accomplishments he remained forever humble. Michael believed strongly in our civil justice system and the right of all people, no matter their background or status, to have access to our courts and to seek justice from a jury of their peers. Along the way he established changes to the law to better protect those who were harmed or suffered loss.
His family was always the center of his life. He loved and taught us all so much, most importantly to love and treat others with dignity and respect. He will forever be remembered through his ideals, carried forward by those he has left behind to carry on his legacy. We will love him forever. He lives in our hearts.
Michael is survived by his loving wife, Rozanne Bordenaro Galligan; his four children, attorney Joseph M. Galligan (Natalia) and their children, Declan, Roman, and Ivan; John D. Galligan, M.D. (Maria), and their children, Ella, Maggie, and Norah; attorney Brian P. Galligan and his children, Stella, Leo, and Scarlett; and attorney Mary M. Galligan (Christopher). He is also survived by his sister, Jackie Plochar; his older brother, Edward Galligan, and his younger brother, John Galligan.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association of America.
Online condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Eugenia Fletcher
08/02/2012
Family, my prayers are with you during your time of loss.
I agree with Todd Colemon when he said "there are only a couple of times in your life that you meet a person that will have a lasting effect on your life".
Mr. Galligan was not only a attorney that represented myself and my daughter he was a friend and through his inspiring words my life has changed. I feel so blessed and so grateful to have known him. He will be greatly missed.
My condolences,
Eugenia Fletcher & Family
Houston, Texas
Derek Perez
07/13/2012
My heart goes out to you all. You are all such good people and I am sorry I didnt know your father as well as his children. Peace to you all
Jim Galinsky
07/10/2012
My thoughts are with the family. I have only known Michael since his association with the Life Center. However, even for this short period of his life, I became a friend of Michael and became to know what a very special person he was.
Ball Kirk & Holm, P.C.
07/10/2012
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family. Our firm will be sending a contribution to the Alzheimer Association of America in his name.
Melissa Hall
07/10/2012
Dr Galligan-
Thinking of you and your family during this difficult time. I hope your days are filled with happy memories of your father.
Sincerely,
Melissa Hall
Lynn Schmill
07/09/2012
Dr. Galligan,
Thinking about you and your family after hearing of the death of your father. My thoughts, prayers and sympathy go out to you. May happy memories help you through this difficult time. My deepest sympathy for your loss.
Lynn
Alfredo Parrish
07/09/2012
Michael was a lawyer's lawyer and a gentleman without peer. When you talked with him you knew full well, like a true trial lawyer, Michael "lived" his cases. Michael's legacy of providing excellent legal advocacy without fear of failure will be a part of each of us who had the privilege of meeting him. My deepest sympathy for your loss.
Bruce Braley
07/09/2012
Rozanne, Mary, Brian, Joe and John: Carolyn and I send our warmest expression of support in your time of loss. Mike was a great friend and mentor to me and so many others, yet he always made clear that his number one job was to be a good family man. "A father is neither an anchor to hold us back or a sail to take us there; but a bright light whose love shines the way." Mike's bright light will always lead you where you need to go. All my best, Bruce
Gary Fischer
07/09/2012
I never met Mike but an attorney I admire greatly that has also passed, Al Harvey, spoke so highly of him it tells me everything I need to know about the man. The comments of the other great lawyers here also tell the story of a life well lived and his excellent example for us all. My sympathy for your loss.
Barb DeHaai
07/09/2012
Unlike many others my only knowledge of Michael was from the Life Center. He was a very sweet and kind man. My sympathy goes out to Rozanne and all of Michael's family,
Iowa Association for Justice -- Brad, Cindy, Kam,
07/09/2012
Mike was the 11th President of the Iowa Trial Lawyers Association (now the Iowa Association for Justice) -- way back in 1983-84. He was a great champion for justice and remained one of our most active past presidents until he took ill a couple of years ago. Mike was a fierce advocate for the rights of injured Americans, but also a very gentle soul who set his clients and colleagues at ease and helped us all along our paths. We miss him a lot and our hearts are going out to Rozanne and to Joe, John, Brian and Mary and your loving families. You were Mike's pride and joy and what he loved most in this world. We'll be thinking of all of you as we remember Mike this week and celebrate his wonderful life.
Dick Lyford
07/09/2012
To Rozanne and family, I met Michael when I came to the Dickinson firm in 1972. He was so glad to see me. In that era at the firm if you said you wanted to do litigation, you ended up doing a lot of collection. My hire meant he could dump Liberty Loan on me and go on to personal injury which was his real love. I enjoyed the 8 years we practiced together. He was a fierce litigator and I learned a lot from him.
That applied to whatever case he took on. On one occasion he was standing in Judge Luther Glanton's courtroom when a criminal appointment was to be made. Judge G appointed Mike to represent Vaunetta Bryson who was charged with receiving stolen property. Mike dug in a obtained an acquital.
I second chaired a 1983 case Mike did for Bob Mason who was the victim of a beating by a Warren County deputy sheriff. In spite of the client's criminal record and other unattractive aspects of his behavior, a modest verdict was obtained which was an amazing feat.
We stood in front of Younkers together waiting for the bus to go home in the evening. We played tennis together. We went to Little Joe's to eat lunch with Uncle Max and Aunt Betty.
I know how much you and the rest of the family meant to him, and I am sorry for your loss. Please accept my profound regret at his passing. regards, Dick
The Robinson Family
07/09/2012
Our deepest sympathy to your whole family.
Chrystal, Kim , Ryan and Alex Robinson
Todd Coleman
07/09/2012
There are only a couple of times in your life that you meet a person that will have a lasting effect on your life. Coach Galligan believed in me enough to bring me up from a younger baseball league to pitch and play shortstop for the Royals. However miniscule the league or action, what he did for me has made a lifetime impact and a better person out of me. He believed in and pushed me on to do much bigger and better things. To do great things, which he has, is something to be admired. To do great things and leave a legacy of greater things is the mark of a great, great man. I can only imagine how proud he is of his kids and their accomplishments. It was a life well lived and even more dignified by the legacy he leaves in his wake. Todd
Glenn Norris
07/09/2012
Mike was an example for us all -- integrity, courage, intelligence, kindness -- a great trial lawyer and a fine gentleman. My deepest sympathy to you, his family.