Virginia “Ginny” Gallagher is well known for her selfless dedication to City Island. Although she was born in Long Island some years ago, depending who you ask - Gallagher moved to City Island more than 40 years ago. This delightful lady and elegant widow worked for The New York Daily News as it's original affirmative action officer. Gallagher then became active in the City Island community as a founding member of the City Island Community Center and the City Island Volunteer Ambulance Corps. During her tenure as President of the Civic Association for twenty years, she successfully pressured NYC to build a new school and PS 175 proudly opened its doors in 1975.
Gallagher’s contribution and community service extends far beyond the boundaries of City Island. Gallagher served as a Vice-President of the Bronx County Historical Society, and in 1990 she received the society’s William C. Beller Award for Excellence and Achievement. She was the first elected Chairman of Community Planning Board 12 during the period when Co-op City, the largest Mitchell-Llama Development in New York State, was built. In 1977 she was appointed to Community Board 10, where she served as a volunteer chairman and is currently head of the Parks Committee. She also helped create the Thomas Pell Wildlife Refuge Sanctuary in Pelham Bay Park.
Gallagher is best known on City Island today for her involvement in Pilot Cove Manor. In 1979 she took over the Presidency of the City Island Senior Citizens Residence, which had been trying for some time to build senior citizen housing on City Island. Her diligence and determination to obtain both Federal and State funding to purchase the Pilot street property, made Pilot Cove Manor a reality in 1981.