While current students may associate the name Gallo with their favorite coffee spot on campus, the legacy of Colonel Walter Gallo extends 46 years of service to Saint Anselm College.

Originally from Revere, Massachusetts, Walter began his education in 1954. During his time as a student, he was involved in his class student council, the economic society, intramurals, and was the ad manager for the yearbook.

Following his graduation in 1958, Walter spent four years serving in the US Marine Corps before returning to the Hilltop. He worked as Vice President of Development, Vice President of Advancement, and as Vice President of Endowment until he retired in 2000. He remained involved in a part-time capacity until 2018 as a special assistant to College Advancement and Alumni Relations.

Jim Flanagan, Senior Vice President of College Advancement, said that Walter was a man who bled blue and white. “We like to say ‘Anselmian then, Anselmian now, Anselmian always,’ and he really represents what it means to be a Saint Anselm Alumnus,” Flanagan said.

“I would say, and I think a lot of people would probably agree with me, that probably in the 135 year history of the college, [he is] without a doubt one of the most influential lay people in the history of the college,” Flanagan continued.

“He was first and foremost a family man and his second family was Saint Anselm. He was extremely close to the monastery, with current monks and monks who have since passed, and beloved by all of our alumni who knew him when he worked here,” Flanagan said. 

In his early years working at the college, when class sizes were closer to 200 people, he knew almost each member of every class. “In my 25 years working here, I always get people coming up to me asking ‘how’s Walter doing,’ or saying ‘Walter did this for me as a student, he helped me get my first job,’” Flanagan said.

Walter was a trailblazer for the Anselmian community. He founded the Order of Golden Anselmians, an added branch to the Alumni Association for those who celebrated their 50th anniversary of their graduation. “Once you graduate, you come back every five years for a reunion. We do kind of a big deal for your 25th reunion, and then we do a big deal again at your 50th reunion, that was Walter’s idea,” Flanagan said.

“We have a very successful reunion weekend every year and a very successful golden Anselmian part of reunion weekend,” he continued. 

Flanagan explained how Walter was instrumental in building up the alumni association, which serves between 23,000 and 24,000 current alumni. “[Walter] kind of ushered the college into a modern era of fundraising. He helped to build the endowment, helped raise money for different buildings, and was very instrumental in forming an estate planning society,” he said. The establishment of the estate society helped to manage the cases in which people leave money to the college in their will, which can fund initiatives like endowments or financial aid.

Along with his impact in Alumni Relations, Walter was a founding member of the King Edward Service Society. 

“Walter Gallo’s legacy will always be part of the King Edward Society. We, as a society, owe our mission and purpose for existing to Walter. Without him the Society would not be what it is today. His hard work and dedication to the college and the King Edward Society will never be forgotten. Thank you to Mr. Gallo for all that you have done for us and we will never forget what you have done for the King Edward society,” said Tim Burgess, President of the King Edward Society.

As a colonel in the US Marine Corps, Walter was instrumental in guiding other Anselmians to serve their country. Each year, around the time of commencement, a group of students is commissioned to serve in the military. Flanagan recalled a particular year in which a student was commissioned to the Marines, joined by his father and grandfather who were also alumni and had been commissioned to the Marines upon their graduation as well. “Walter was instrumental in that, definitely in the father and grandfather,” he said. 

Walter Gallo left an impact on not just the Hilltop, but also in the greater Manchester area. He was named by the town of Bedford as their Citizen of the Year as well as being awarded Serenity Place’s Courage to Change Award for his impact and drive to serve his community.

After fighting a long battle against cancer, Walter passed away on Feb. 27. There will be a funeral held in the Abbey Church on March 15. In lieu of flowers, the Gallo family is asking for people to contribute to Walter’s endowed scholarship fund at the college.