He further explained how once the media finds out how long a couple has been together, it’ll be all anyone talks about but “then six months later, they’re on the rocks.”

Gallagher believes it’s “dangerous” to talk about milestone anniversaries.

“It’s not immutable. It’s a living, breathing thing.”

In order to survive a marriage of four decades, Gallagher’s best advice is to not get a divorce.

“So much of life including love and work and the choices you make is built more on suspicion than certainty,” he added. “And it’s being able to listen to those subterranean streams that are talking to you and you kind of hope you’re going in the right direction but there’s very little certainty I think.”

Gallagher met Harwood during their first year at Tufts University. The couple got married on May 7, 1983. They share two adult children, Kathryn, 30, and James, 27.