Judge T. Jordan Gallagher dies at 63

Kurt Klein said when he walked into a restaurant with T. Jordan Gallagher, half the people in the restaurant would stop and say hello to Gallagher, Klein's long-time friend and law partner.

"He had time for everybody, and would never talk down to anybody," Klein, DeKalb County presiding judge, said Sunday. "People just felt close to him. That was his greatest gift."

Gallagher died unexpectedly Saturday at Edward Hospital & Health Services in Naperville. He was 63. At the time of his death, he was an associate judge in Kane County for the 16th Judicial Circuit.

According to Jordan's brother, Dick Gallagher, Klein was one of several friends and family members at Gallagher's bedside when he died about 7 p.m. Saturday. He said Klein stood at the foot of the bed and called his brother "the finest man I have ever known."

Klein said even though Gallagher was diagnosed with lung cancer in April, his death was a shock to friends and family who were optimistic about his recovery.

Dick Gallagher said his brother was scheduled to undergo another round of chemotherapy today, but began having trouble breathing about 4 p.m. Saturday, when he was taken to the emergency room. Although the cause of death was not yet known, he said it was likely heart failure brought on by complications of lung cancer.

"He was a great brother, with a great sense of humor," Dick Gallagher said. "He was comfortable with all people, and he made all people feel comfortable with themselves."

Gallagher, who was raised in rural DeKalb County, worked as a state's attorney in DeKalb County from 1976-1984, and he also served as an assistant attorney general for more than 20 years. He was a founding partner in the law firm of Gallagher, Klein & Brady, with offices in DeKalb and Sycamore.

He began serving as associate judge in the 16th Judicial Circuit in July 2008, with assignments that included DeKalb County, Kane County Felony Division and Aurora Branch Court.

He was a 1965 graduate of DeKalb High School and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1969 and the Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1972.

F. Keith Brown, chief judge of the 16th Judicial Circuit, said Gallagher was everybody's friend, and treated everyone equally. He called him "one of our best judges," and a man who was "not only smart, but had compassion" and could make tough calls.

"He was a true professional, an excellent judge and can never be replaced," Brown said. "He was also respected by prosecutors and defense attorneys. And because of his intellectual ability and understanding of the law, lawyers really appreciated appearing before him."

Kane County State's Attorney Joseph McMahon called Gallagher's death "a terrible loss."

"Judge Gallagher was a very gentle and kind person," McMahon said. "I will miss his friendship."

Maureen Josh, DeKalb County circuit clerk, said she had knew Jordan for years, and was happy her friend was able to serve as a judge.

"I was particularly happy that he was able to serve in the role of judge," she said in a news release issued by the DeKalb County Judicial Office. "I know that was a highlight of his career. He loved DeKalb County, he loved our court system, and we loved him."

Lifelong friend and colleague Gerry Morel knew Jordan since their youth, and they even shared an apartment together in law school.

"If you wanted a person as a great friend and a great lawyer, Jordan is the one you would choose because of his loyalty, kindness and integrity, all of which came packaged with a great Irish sense of humor," Morel said in the news release from the judiciary.

DeKalb County State's Attorney Clay Campbell called Gallagher an "old-school type of country lawyer," with a combination of qualities not often seen in a single person.

"A lot of things were done with a handshake," Campbell said during a phone interview. "Where a lot of attorneys would want to fight about everything, Jordan had an ability to bring people together because he was such a decent person.

Campbell served as an associate for Gallagher from 2000-2003, and said he was like an encyclopedia of legal knowledge.

"It's the biggest loss the legal community could suffer," Campbell said. "They don't make them like that anymore."

Arrangements are pending at Butala Funeral Home and Crematory, 1045 DeKalb Ave, Sycamore.

• Shaw Media news editor Al Lagattolla and Shaw Media reporter Brenda Schory contributed to this report.

Arrangements
• Funeral arrangements are pending at Butala Funeral Home and Crematory, 1045 DeKalb Ave., Sycamore.

Remembering T. Jordan Gallagher
The DeKalb County Judicial Office issued a news release about the death of T. Jordan Gallagher. The following are several statements from that news release:

• State Sen. Christine Johnson: "He was a dedicated public servant who loved his community. He served the citizens of this area with honor for many years. He will certainly be missed."

• Sycamore City Manager Bill Nicklas: "I have spent most of my professional life here in DeKalb County and have always considered Jordan to be a leading attorney who served the best interests of his clients."

• Fellow St. Mary Catholic Church of Sycamore Parishioner Joe Bussone: "Jordan was a good friend, an honest man and a man of faith. For the last 20 years, he and I attended religious retreats together. He will forever be in my thoughts."

• Sister Rita Mary, Former Religious Education Director at St. Mary's of Sycamore: "I asked Jordan to be a confirmation teacher because he lived his faith in the way he was so present to people through his sense of humor and his ability to be positive in each situation he confronted."