By Abigail Warren ’16 │Staff Writer
If a student ever finds themselves walking into the South Fisher doors in the morning with arms full of books up to their chin, one thing they won’t have to worry about is how they’re going to open the door.
This is because James, otherwise known as Jimmy, Gallagher ’16 is often there, holding the door wide open, welcoming all students. Before school and during his lunch hour, Gallagher takes on this role of holding doors open for hundreds of students walking in and out of South, especially at his favorite door facing Fisher road.
Greeting everyone is a job Gallagher said he takes very seriously.
In fact, the first interview with Gallagher was pushed back a day because he didn’t want to miss his opportunity of holding the doors. He is that dedicated.
Gallagher was born with Autism Spectrum Disorder, which is a group of complex disorders in brain development, according to Autism Speaks Foundation. For his condition specifically, his biggest trouble is with communication. He understands a lot more than what people may think, but just has a hard time expressing it, his mother Joan Gallagher said.
“I think he expresses what he can through holding the doors,” Joan said. “He can’t give a lot but gives what he can through this.”
In fact, Jimmy said helping other people is one of his favorite parts about holding the doors for people. He said he also loves seeing and meeting all the different students he interacts with.
“Whenever he holds the door open for me, I always talk to him and thank him,” his Peer-to-Peer lunch buddy Molly Walsh ’16 said. “It always brightens my day to see him.”
Holding the doors is a privilege for Jimmy, special education teacher Deanna Plotzke said. Before he is allowed this privilege, however, he must complete whatever work is needed to be done for the day. This door is almost used as a motivation for him.
“I think he is overcoming his disability in this way (holding the doors),” Jimmy’s special education assistant Bob Kelly said.
Plotzke said he finds Gallagher to be the class clown. He always playing jokes, of course, in a loving manner.
“Sometimes during lunch he tries to shut the door on a student, like he is playing a joke. We give him warnings, and Jimmy listens because he wants to stay at the door,” Plotzke said, laughing.
Gallagher is technically a senior this year, but since he loves South so much he may stay another year or two, Joan said.
When Jimmy started as a freshman, he had a little more of a struggle at school then he does now, Plotzke said.
“I’ve noticed such a change in Jimmy the past three years I’ve been working at South,” Plotzke said. “He has come so far from where he started.”
Both Plotzke and Joan said they thank South students for being so appreciative towards Jimmy. It’s not only the aspect of being kind, but it also affects Jimmy personally, since it gives him a sense of purpose.
“This has given Jimmy a feeling of acceptance,” Joan said, “something that may not be the easiest to find due to his disability.”
In fact, Jimmy’s tradition has now spread out of the realms of just South, his mother said. When they go shopping now, Jimmy runs to to get the door for customers, making sure he is there to hold the door for them. Of course, just like the students, they rave with appreciation, Joan said.
But Jimmy doesn’t only spend his time helping others. He’s adept with any kind of technology, Joan said. He’s always on his iPad or PS4.
Anything that has to do with technology, Jimmy loves. And, he is quite skilled in this department, Plotzke said.
“When the other teachers aren’t here and I need to get the projector out and running, I rely on Jimmy. He knows what he’s doing with that stuff,” Plotzke said.
Most importantly, his mom said, Jimmy Gallagher is beloved by his two sisters, Meghan and Becca, and mother and father. His sisters take good care of him, Joan said, and she said he brings a lot of joy to their family and to the South student body.
She said, “Jimmy is good as gold.”
