Service measured not by GOLD,
                           but by the GOLDEN RULE

Service measured not by GOLD,
          but by the GOLDEN RULE

330.262.7771

April Gallagher, 72, of Wooster, passed away Friday, August 21, 2020 at her home following a prolonged battle with breast cancer.
Born January 16, 1948 in Hollis, NY to Alfred and Shirley Lorenz, April moved to Plainview, Long Island, in 1953. She graduated in 1966 from Plainview High School, playing clarinet in the band and meeting there, and at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, her future husband. She attended Concordia College in Bronxville, NY, Nassau Community College, Hofstra University, and completed her Bachelors degree in English and Education from The College of Wooster in 1981.
April married her loving husband, Jack Gallagher, in 1977, settling in Wooster upon his appointment that year to the The College of Wooster Music faculty. Previously she was a customer service representative of the Bell Telephone Company.
Studies with pianists Lawrence Schubert and Coren Estrin Mino prepared her for private teaching in her home studio from 1977 until 2012, when she retired to help care for her grandchildren in Mt. Lebanon, PA. Her students included Jonathan, Veronica, and Rheanna Velasquez; David, Andrew and Rebecca Kreuzman; Matthew and Daniel Cebul; Nicholas and Hannah Zurko; Sarah and Britta Yarnell; Julian and Xavier Lubell; Sophie and Henry Gamble; Brian and Kevin Rodda; Amy and Kaitlynn Wilson; Andrew and Mindy Horst; Brian, Dan, and Sophia Mathur; Sarah and Madeline Boreman; Cameron Exner and Laurel Thompson; Christopher and Lee Matsos; and many more.
Her husband dedicated six works to April: Sonata for Piano (1973/2005), Nocturne (1976/1999), Happy Birthday, April (1976/2014), Pastorale (1978), Evening Music (1998/2009), and Souvenirs de Charlier (2020).
A teacher at The College of Wooster Nursery School from 2000 until 2012, she was presented the 2007 Teacher of the Year Award by the  Wayne Association for the Education of Young Children. She continued to assist the Nursery School as a substitute teacher until 2019.
She is survived by her devoted husband of 43 years, Jack Gallagher, her daughter Kelly and son Ryan, her son-in law Parke Junker, her brother Richard Lorenz and his wife Susanne Lorenz of Plainview, NY, her beloved grandchildren Jack, Thomas, and Grace Junker of Mt. Lebanon, PA, and her nephews Christopher and Daniel Lorenz of Long Island. Her kind, gentle, giving, luminous, and uplifting spirit will be remembered forever by all she touched.
In keeping with her wishes, no calling hours or services will be held. A celebration of life may be scheduled at a future date.
McIntire, Bradham & Sleek Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, 28 West 44th Street, Suite 609, New York, NY 10036; or to  Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare, 1900 Akron Rd., Wooster, Ohio 44691.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.mcintirebradhamsleek.com

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11 Comments

  1. I am so sorry to hear about April’s passing. She was an incredible woman–talented, kind, and a wonderful teacher. My boys were never great piano students, but she was patient and persistent with them,and she helped instill their love for music. She will be terribly missed, and my thoughts are with you, Jack.

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  2. Mrs Gallagher is one of the blessings that God brought into the lives of my family to help mold and positively influence my children. She was more than a preschool teacher and piano teacher. She was someone who made all of our lives better, brightened our days, brought a calm to the unknowns that raising young children can bring and went above and beyond to make us feel special. A fellow East Coaster, we shared a love for proper bagels and pizza. To us she was an angel on earth- and now an angel in heaven. Mr Gallagher, our hearts and prayers go out to you and your beautiful family. May you take comfort in all of the great memories spent with such an incredible woman.

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  3. I was stunned and so saddened to learn about April today. Knowing her for many years and with children in the same grade, it was always delightful to run into her in Buehler’s or at a COW music concert or out walking in the neighborhood. Our chats always revolved around catching up on what we were focused on, our children and grandchildren, and life in general. She truly was a warm, beautifully-spirited, lovely person with a good heart, and I will miss our occasional connections.. My deepest condolences to you, Jack, Kelly, and Ryan, and to the rest of the family — as well as to all of April’s very good friends. My heart goes out to all of you.

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  4. Dear Dr. Gallagher and family, we fondly remember our memories with Mrs. April Gallagher. Every time we stepped into her studio, we always felt her incredible love and warmth. We love her dearly and will miss her very much. We are so sorry for your loss, sending all our love and prayers.

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  5. Jack and Family: Please accept our deep and sincere sympathy. She was a great piano teacher and a wonderful person. Our hearts go out to you.

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  6. Jack and family,
    Having been acquainted with April, and you, through your, and my, dear friend Coren E. M., I know she will be greatly missed in presence, but not in heart and mind. I have warm memories of meeting while our sons participated in music camps at COW. My deepest sympathy to you and your family at this time, and best wishes for the future.

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  7. Dearest jack, my thoughtd are with you always. April was a wonderful person who brought sunshine to everyone she touched.

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  8. My heart goes out to her husband and children, April always radiated joy and kindness.

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  9. Keeping you all in our prayers and thoughts during this difficult time! Such a loss for all of you and to all knew April! xo

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  10. How very sad I was to hear of April’s passing. She was a bright spot on the landscape of Wooster, greeting everyone with her genuine and dazzling smile. April was so relatable and we shared many a laugh during the time my daughter took piano lessons with her. My life was enriched by knowing her, even on a casual basis. My sympathy and prayers are with Jack, Kelly, Ryan, and the rest of the family.

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