Philip M. Fallon

 

Dr. Philip Michael Fallon, age 82, of Fitchburg,  passed away on Wednesday, August 7th from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.  He was surrounded by his loving family and close friends.

Phil was born in Fitchburg on June 21, 1937 to William and Roby (Madigan) Fallon.   He attended St. Leo’s Elementary School in Leominster, where he lived most of his childhood.  He went to St. Bernard’s High School and transferred to Leominster High School where he graduated in 1956.

Growing up in Leominster, Phil was interested in all sports, but baseball was his passion.  He received a baseball scholarship to Florida State University in 1956, he then transferred to Fitchburg State College where he graduated with a degree in Education in 1960. He received his Master’s Degree from the University of Southern California in 1964 and his doctorate from Nova Southeast University in 1975. Phil’s forty year career in education began in the Rowland School District in West Covina, CA, where he taught middle school.   It was there that he became  Middle School Principal. In 1970, he returned to the east coast as an Elementary Principal in Darien, CT.   Over the next 16 years, he was Director of Elementary Education in Trumbull, CT and later Superintendent of Schools in both Seymour and Watertown, CT.   He returned to his roots in 1986 as Superintendent of Schools in Fitchburg MA and remained in that role for sixteen years before retiring in 2002.   One of the biggest highlights of his tenure was the building of a new high school in 2000.

He was active in numerous professional community and civic organizations:  Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, Fitchburg Rotary Club, Oak Hill Country Club, Multi Service Agency, and a founding member of ALFA (Adult Learning in the Fitchburg Area).

Irish songs, rooting for the Red Sox, playing golf and spending time with family were hobbies Phil loved in his later years.  He especially enjoyed time in Wells, Maine with his beloved wife Patricia, who passed away in 2013.

Phil is survived by an extended and loving family including a son, Brad, of Stratford, CT, a son, Mathew, and his wife, Lele, of Atlanta, GA, a daughter, Beth (Fallon) Leblanc and husband, Chris, of Fitchburg,  a daughter, Erin Donnelly, and her husband, John, of Fitchburg, a daughter, Kimberly Kalagher, of Fitchburg, a son, John Kalagher, and wife, Paula, of Fitchburg, and was predeceased by his son, Greg, of Atlanta, GA. He was also predeceased by his brothers, William J. Fallon, Dr. Robert J. Fallon, and his sister, Mary A. Smith Gallagher.

He leaves a combined nine grandchildren: Shannon Fallon, Jordan LeBlanc, Rylee LeBlanc, Meghan Donnelly, Colby Donnelly, Molly Donnelly, Shea (Donnelly) Caveney, Rachel Kalagher, Sara Kalagher and three great-grandchildren; Fira Roberti, Tatum Donnelly, Kelte Caveney. The family would like to thank Dr. John Schneeweis and Dr. Kevin Martin and the staff at St. Vincent’s hospital for their exceptional care and support.