Susan Gilmore-Gallagher, 52; cofounded East-West Mortgage

S. GILMORE- GALLAGHER

Susan J. Gilmore-Gallagher, a prominent businesswoman and resident of Manchester-by-the-Sea, died at home Thursday of stomach cancer. She was 52.

Along with her husband, John, Mrs. Gilmore-Gallagher founded East-West Mortgage Co. of Peabody, which grew to become one of New England's largest lenders. She also was a cofounder of ISoldMyHouse.com, a popular real estate website and a division of East-West.

The couple later sold the company to Commerce Bank & Trust Co. of Worcester, although Mrs. Gilmore-Gallagher remained an executive until 2005.

Mrs. Gilmore-Gallagher was born and raised in Northbridge. After graduating from Bryant College in Rhode Island in 1977 with a degree in business, she worked in the office furniture industry before helping to launch the mortgage company, now known as 1-800-East-West Mortgage.

John Gallagher said his wife's drive, ambition, marketing skills, and accounting background all helped to make her a shrewd businesswoman.

"Her vision was probably the biggest thing," he said. "She had the vision to look at a business and see its potential. When we started East-West, she wanted to make it substantial, so we gave it a name where we could grow outside of New England."

He said ISoldMyHouse.com "was very revolutionary at the time."

His wife's real passion was renovating homes, Gallagher said. She started and operated OurRentalParadise.com, where she and her husband bought and renovated luxury vacation rentals in a variety of areas, including Stowe, Vt., and the Caribbean.

Mrs. Gilmore-Gallagher was also a volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters. Her little sister, Keisha, was a frequent visitor, and Mrs. Gilmore-Gallagher often took her swimming, shopping, and bowling.

In addition to her husband, Mrs. Gilmore-Gallagher leaves a son, Jonathan, and two daughters, Jennifer and Rachael, all of Manchester; her parents, Ralph and Glenadine Glimore of Northbridge; three sisters, Gail Dimarco of Northbridge, Darlene Labonne of Douglas, and Sandra D'Amico of Hopedale; and two brothers, Roy and Mark, both of Norway, Maine.

A funeral service will be held today at 11 a.m. at the First Parish Congregational Church in Manchester.