Stephen Gargan holding a banner for the Bloody Sunday March for Justice
Mr Gargan was a founder of the Gaslight Media Trust and a member of the Bloody Sunday March Committee.
Tributes have flowed in following his death on Sunday, November 27.
He co-produced a drama-documentary, Sunday, that tells the story of January 30, 1972, when British Paratroopers shot dead 13 unarmed civilians, and wounded 15, during a civil rights march in Derry.
Gaslight was set up in 1998 to exploit the potential of new media for progressive education.
He co-created the inclusive ‘Epilogues’ workshops which respected all perspectives but equally challenged them.
Kate Nash, whose brother William was shot dead on Bloody Sunday and who was a friend of Mr Gargan, said: “We’re saddened and shocked at the sudden death of our dear friend and colleague Stephen Gargan who worked with us on the Bloody Sunday March Committee.
“Stephen passed away yesterday, Sunday. I can’t express how sorry we are to his family and friends. Will always miss Stephen.”
Mr Gargan was involved in community activism in Derry for many years.
He came from a community development background in Dublin.
A concern for justice issues combined with an interest in literature and film and an acute awareness that working class communities are in the main excluded from these tools of expression provoked a move to Derry in 1990.
He quickly became active in the community education sector.
Working freelance he was a founder member of both 20/20 Vision, a cultural education project, and the Gasyard Wall Feile, a radical and outward looking community festival in the Bogside.
Stephen was for many years a member of the Bloody Sunday Organising Committee which coordinates a series of events around the anniversary of Bloody Sunday on the themes of justice and human rights.
Mr Gargan had been an integral part of the Bloody Sunday March Committee’s 50th anniversary march and commemorations earlier this year.
Paying tribute following his premature passing, Tony Doherty, Chair of the Bloody Sunday Trust said: “It is with great regret that we have learned of the death of Stephen Gargan who played a key role with the Bloody Sunday families over the years and helped reinvigorate the Bloody Sunday March from the early 90s onwards.
“Stephen also helped create public support for the Bloody Sunday Justice Campaign and the Pat Finucane Centre. Our sincere sympathy to his friends and family circle.”
Close friend Jim Keys paid tribute on Facebook saying: “I carry him in my heart now, and encourage those who loved him to do the same.
“What comes from that will be his afterlife. I had the honour of working in partnership with him for some 33 years. The power of that choosing only revealed in his passing. He is my brother.
“I realise I’m broken hearted and need to be broken hearted now. I think its the best way I can share the passing of this beautiful being I was honoured to know and get to work with for so long.
“His rudder was justice and his quest was for the truth, warts and all. Big love to all who knew him.”
The Community Relations Forum said Stephen and Jim brought us Epilogues, a “wonderful programme” about the conflict in Northern Ireland.
“Stephen was the Yin to Jim’s Yang at sessions. A wonderful human being and will be very much missed.
“Epilogues preparation sessions were enlightening with Stephen making sure money was spent within budget and trying to keep us all on the right road.
“Sleep peacefully my friend x”.
On Thursday morning, December 1, Mr Gargan will leave his home at 8.30am to go to St Columbs Hall for celebration at 9am.
His remains will leave Derry and travel to Dublin at 10am on Thursday for burial at 2pm in Newlands Cross Cemetery.
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