Martin Gilligan

(From Malpezzi Funeral Home)

Martin E. Gilligan Jr., age 87, of Red Lion, PA, peacefully passed away on September 29, 2025. Born on March 26, 1938, in Ventura, California, he was the son of Martin E. Gilligan Sr. and Mildred (Franek) Gilligan.

Martin earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering and a Juris Doctor degree (labor/contract law) from Loyola-Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA.

Martin held several upper-management positions throughout his career in contract management, marketing, sales, and business development. He founded Martin & Associates, a consulting firm that provided small business management coaching for contracts, licenses, and human resources, with a specialty of working with family-run businesses. He was highly respected for his integrity and generous mentorship of business leaders.

Martin was a voracious reader and could spend hours lost in a book. He enjoyed all kinds of music, from classical and jazz to folk and classic rock. He took great pleasure in supporting his wife in her hobbies and was always present at her clogging demos as the club photographer and even took line dancing lessons with his bride of 56 years. 

He was a Philadelphia Eagles fan, a worldwide traveler who loved to explore new places and meet new people, and a popular cook when he made his famous tacos. He enjoyed playing board games and cards with family and friends. He particularly liked playing cribbage with his dad, son, and grandkids. Martin was a devoted member of the Roman Catholic Church and admired the Jesuit tradition of supporting education, independent thinking, and tolerance among all faiths.

Martin is survived by his beloved wife, Darylann (Lynn) Gilligan; son Martin E. Gilligan III (Marge) of Edmond, OK; daughter Letitia (Tish) Almich (Jeff) of Granby, MO; daughter Laura Taylor (Glenn) of Red Lion, PA; grandchildren Martin E. Gilligan IV of San Diego, CA; Richard (Nathan) Schenz-Davis (Elizabeth) of Tijuana, Mexico; Alicia Speck of Portland, OR, Amanda Almich of Granby, MO; Adam Almich (Sacha) of Virginia Beach, VA; Anne Hudson of Frederick, MD; Katelyn Taylor of Red Lion, PA; Nicholas Taylor of Dallastown, PA; and Brianna Taylor of Red Lion, PA; great-grandchildren Dakoda Almich of Virginia Beach, VA, and Alexander, Christopher, and Maia Schenz-Davis of Tijuana, Mexico; sister-in-law Darylene Bracken of Red Lion, PA; and many cousins across the country.

Viewing will be at 10:00 a.m. and Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, October 6, at Saint Joseph Catholic Church, 400 East Simpson St., Mechanicsburg. Burial will take place privately at Gate of Heaven Cemetery.


In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Labre Indian School in Ashland, MT, www.stlabre.org, or Human Life Services in York, PA, humanlifeservices.org.