Patrick J. Gannon, MD age 94, fortified by the sacraments of Holy Mother Church entered eternal life surrounded by family on August 26th 2025.
“PJ” was a long time resident of St. Louis MO, a native of Dunmore, Galway, Ireland. He is survived by his wife of 61 years Helen (nee Phillips), sons Sean (Marilyn), Niall (Gretchen), Liam (Annie), daughter Eileen (Robert), and sister Nora. Grandfather to Riley, Fiona, Levi, Ella, Cole and Sawyer. Great-grandfather to Theo Aiken. PJ was preceded in death by his parents, John and Margaret, his son Patrick, his brother Marce, and sister Dett.
PJ and Helen immigrated to the US in 1967 with Sean and pregnant with Niall after PJ was appointed as staff Psychiatrist at the Missouri State Hospital on Arsenal Street. He would later be named Superintendent of the hospital. He also went on to become Professor of Psychiatry at St. Louis University and administered mental health care to many veterans at the St. Louis VA Hospital. Missing home and a piece of their Irishness, Helen and PJ were founders of St. Louis Irish Arts School of Music and Dance, Inc. Over 50 years, thousands of students would learn traditional Irish music, dance, language, and poetry. PJ and Helen’s goal of putting St. Louis on the map with a rich and authentic Irish heritage is their lasting legacy. PJ won the All-Ireland (world) championship in harmonica in 1980 and 1981. Among his highlights of his many years of teaching was when one of his own students won the prize decades later.
Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will take place Saturday August 30 at 10:00AM at Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church, 676 W. Lockwood, Webster Groves, MO 63119 with visitation at 9:00 AM. Family burial will follow immediately, and a gathering to celebrate his life and Irish music session will take place at John D McGurk’s Irish Pub in Soulard. Session is open to all musicians.
Voluntary contributions may be made to St. Louis Irish Arts, Inc. www.slia.org
He will be greatly missed. Our whole Riley Irish community in Cincinnati has benefited greatly from the example of St Louis Irish Arts.
I only got to meet P J and hear him play a couple of times, but it was clear he loved the music and his family.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam!