John Joseph Gagliardi

On June 6, 2023, surrounded by his family and friends, we lost a joyful soul, John Gagliardi. Born on February 28,1943, he was 80 years old. John was larger than life. He was a quintessential family man, self-made businessman and always the life of the party.

John was raised in Southwest Philadelphia, graduated from West Catholic High School in 1961, and went on to attend the University of Dayton, Ohio for engineering. He proudly served in US Navy on the USS Gyatt (DD-712) during the Vietnam War. John was a prominent businessman in Collingswood, New Jersey owning Total Image Hair Salon and Marlene’s Dress Shop along with his wife Marlene. John was also a pioneer in bringing local business and the community together. He joined the Collingswood Business Association in 1973 and served as President from 1980 to 1996, where he was instrumental in reviving the Collingswood business district. From planting the first tree on Haddon Avenue to helping start the May Fair and the Holiday Parade. John helped create the roadmap for what Collingswood is today, “The place where you want to be.”