This past Sunday July 17, 2022, we suddenly lost our longtime colleague and friend Gary Healy. Gary passed away surrounded by family and friends after a sudden but short illness. Gary was born and raised in Birmingham, England, to Irish parents. He grew up performing Irish dance, Gaelic football and hurling, and playing Irish music in the large Irish community in Birmingham. But it was in Irish dance that he most excelled, winning titles on numerous occasions including Regionals, Great Britain, British National, All-Scotland, All-Ireland and World Championships. He became a dancer with the legendary Irish dance show Riverdance, moving to the U.S. with that show, and going on tour with the show in the U.S., Mexico, Canada and Europe. He retired from Riverdance in 2002.
Before he joined Riverdance though, Gary prepared himself for the career in law that brought him to MMG. He graduated in 1997 from the University of Glasgow, School of Law, specializing in the law of the European Union. He first joined MMG as an intern in 2001, and after hanging up his dance shoes on Broadway, he joined MMG as an attorney. He was a vital member of the Toxic Tort Group at the Firm for almost 20 years.
Gary also managed his career as an attorney to enable him to continue to be a leader in Irish dance in the U.S., teaching American-born Irish dancers who would themselves win a myriad of awards, including the regional, national and world titles. Gary continued to win the recognition of his peers as an attorney, with awards in immigration practice by the American Bar Association of New York, the Irish Voice, and the “Wild Goose” award of the Irish American Bar Association of New York, for his interesting and creative endeavors beyond the practice of law.
For 20 years Gary has been an extraordinary colleague, and a treasured friend. He was one-of-a-kind, and will be missed more than words can express.
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