O F

ROTARY CLUB OF DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA

WHEREAS, on December 25, 2009, Rotarian R. BRUCE GALLOWAY was called to his eternal rest; and

WHEREAS, R. BRUCE GALLOWAY had been a Rotarian for almost 40 years, having first joined the Rotary Club of Washington Court House, Ohio, in 1970, with the classification of Telephone Service, followed by membership with the Rotary Club of Westlake-Bay Village, Ohio, before joining the Rotary Club of Delray Beach, Florida, on April 7, 1987, with the classification of Senior Active Telephone Service; and

WHEREAS, R. BRUCE GALLOWAY, as a member of the Rotary Club of Delray Beach, became a Paul Harris Fellow and actively participated in Club activities, as well as to serve on numerous committees, including his many entertaining years as editor of our weekly newsletter, Rotary Ramblings, featuring his unique sense of humor and amusing witicisms; and

WHEREAS, R. BRUCE GALLOWAY, served his community and country as:

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, born on February 23, 1928;

A member of the United States Navy;

A graduate of Ohio University with a Bachelor of Arts degree;

A business career with Ohio Bell Telephone Company for more than 30 years as a marketing and commercial manager; and

An active participant and volunteer in numerous community activities and organizations, including service for many years as a member of Board of Governors of the Delray Beach Playhouse and as a dedicated volunteer with the Old School Square Cultural Arts Center, where in recognition of his more than 20 years of service, the center has named its volunteer program the “Bruce Galloway Volunteer Program.”

WHEREAS, R. BRUCE GALLOWAY, in his activities and endeavors as a Rotarian and citizen, applied the Rotary Four-Way Test with integrity, diligence, and understanding, and to his community he brought untiring interest in organizations devoted to its welfare and improvement.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that a copy of this Memorial Resolution be forwarded to his family, that they might know the high regard in which R. BRUCE GALLOWAY was held by the members of this Rotary Club, and that the original of this Memorial Resolution be spread upon the Minutes of the Rotary Club of Delray Beach as a permanent record of the accomplishments of our fellow Rotarian, R. BRUCE GALLOWAY, of our high esteem for him, and of our sympathy in his passing.

DULY ADOPTED this 19th day of January, 2010.

ROTARY CLUB OF DELRAY BEACH

Dear God,

I stand here as clay, still capable of being molded in your image. With fused vertebrae and titanium knees, with restricted vision and limited mobility, I am the 1928 model of your ever-evolving human life form. Some of us you intended for greatness, some for simple humility. As I pursue my daily rounds in your turbulent world, I thank you for breathing that spark of life into me seventy years ago. I thank you for allowing me to experience so many of your natural wonders – even my second wife – and I dedicate my remaining energies to the celebration of my creation – by your hands – until I am replaced by a new model.

Here’s a top ten list that I think he might appreciate.

10. History – History was very personal for Dad. As the son of immigrant parents, there was always a part of him that remained connected to the old country. He visited the family home in the Midlands of Northern England only a handful of times, but was drawn to the culture, history, and events in England, Scotland, and Wales.

Dad spoke with great pride about the accomplishments of his own father. Harry went to France with the British army in 1914 and survived four years in the trenches as a sniper. After coming to America in the 1920s, he worked for decades as a marble mason in Cleveland. Much of his work still survives.

9. Music – Dad loved Jazz. He spun Stan Kenton records as a DJ at the college radio station. Bagpipes could bring tears to his eyes. He liked Bluegrass, but never Country. Similarly, he collected classical recordings, but had no interest in Opera. Rock and Roll mostly happened without him. With such enigmatic musical tastes, it was difficult to predict what he might like. I enjoyed sharing with him a techno piece or some other modern genre. Dad would often tie a rhythm or sound to an older artist or style.

8. Sports – When we were kids, Dad would tell us that the three most important things in his life were, “my job, my family, and the Cleveland Browns.” On Sunday afternoons in the fall, the order would change somewhat. I never remember seeing my father any happier than he was on December 27, 1964. He and his friends came home from the stadium after watching the Browns win 27-0 over Johnny Unitas and the Colts to become NFL champions. They were half frozen, but totally jubilant.

He also followed the Indians through decades of misery, attending behind-the-fence dinners, press cavalcades, and Wahoo Club lunches. We shared our joy (and surprise) during the Tribe’s late nineties resurgence. He knew about all of the players and would grouse when he felt the manager wasn’t using them properly.

Then there was boxing. As a kid, I recall sitting on the carpeted floor in the family room on Friday nights. The only illumination in the room was the light from our black-and-white television and the faint red glow of Dad’s cigar. He provided a steady stream of his own uniquely colorful commentary on the match and the pugilists. Years later, he would call many a night to announce, “There’s fights!” He might complain about a poorly matched bout, but he usually watched anyway.

7. Humor and Comedy – Dad grew up listening to comedy on radio. That vaudevillian shtick blended with his father’s subtle British wit to create a comedic omnivore. Dad appreciated the clever sketches of Sid Caesar, the domestic explosions of Jackie Gleason, the pure zaniness of Ernie Kovacs, the nerdy nuttiness of Woody Allen, and the rampaging absurdity of Monty Python. In my early years, he introduced me to Warner Brothers cartoons, the Three Stooges, and Tex Avery.

During the early 1980s, I remember Dad relating the following stunt. He went to a Wendy’s drive-through and ordered a single burger with cheese, tomato, lettuce, and mustard, a medium fries, and a Sprite. He paid $3.84 for the meal and departed. A few minutes later, he entered the drive-through line at a different Wendy’s restaurant. He gave them the same order. When he arrived at the window, the young woman informed him that it would be $3.84. “That’s right,” he said as he handed her the bag. “Thank you for visiting Wendy’s”

6. Reading – Dad’s taste in books largely mirrored his interests overall. History, mystery, paleontology, and ecology could all be found on his bookshelves. He loved his daily newspapers as well. In later years, he augmented his news through the web.

As a boy, Dad attended Miles Park Presbyterian Church in Cleveland. It was customary for Sunday School students to receive a Bible when they completed a course of scriptural study. Dad told the teacher that he would rather have a copy of Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. After considerable concern and multiple discussions, the elders decided that if he completed his lessons, my father could indeed earn his own copy of Treasure Island. That book is now proudly displayed in our bookcase.

5. Service – Throughout his life, Dad donated his time and expertise to a variety of different volunteer organizations including Rotary International, Old School Square, the Delray Beach Playhouse, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Telephone Pioneers. The friends he met through these experiences were among his closest.

He received a number of awards and recognitions over the years, but seldom spoke of them.

4. People – Dad found humanity an endless source of inspiration and amusement. He never failed to comment when he observed someone who he thought appeared or acted oddly. “Get a look at this sweetheart,” he would say of a scruffy biker-type in a voice just slightly too loud for the comfort of his companions.

In late 1960s, Dad worked as a marketing manager for the telephone company. It was a turbulent time for the nation, and especially in Cleveland. The city had been recently rocked by violent race riots. Naturally, he was less than thrilled to learn that his assignment during a telephone strike was to work as a telephone operator in the financially distressed Glenville neighboorhood. During this strike duty, he worked with a dignified, older Black woman. She handled her operator duties very professionally until one day when she loudly exclaimed, “Whadda you mean you want the number of the Flying Nun?!” Dad thought this tension-breaker was hilarious.

3. Family – My father grew up as the only child of very reserved Victorian parents. He idolized his parents, but at the same time, I suspect that he secretly envied the more demonstrative homes of some of his ethnically diverse schoolmates. Every generation tries to improve the formula, so Dad went out of his way to hug his sons often.

One funny family tradition was (and is) the assignment of nicknames to family, friends, pets, and complete strangers. My mother tells me that Dad’s father did this as well, so it may go back farther than we realize. Dad called me “Buck” or “Bucko,” presumably because of my pre-orthodontic overbite. I never cared for the name, but that didn’t seem to matter. My brother Jim was “Sheeb” or “MacGonagle.” Paul was simply “The Wog.” Not even random drivers on the highway were spared this treatment. When cut off in traffic, Dad would yell, “Watch out, Charlie!” (with the name often adjusted to fit the perceived age, gender, and ethnicity of the offending driver). I imagine he would be pleased to know that this particular tradition lives on.

2. Art and Writing – One of my father’s defining characteristics was his wild creativity. This was expressed most often through his art and writing. I recall him talking about riding the streetcar to the amazing Cleveland Museum of Art as a teen so he could sketch the statues. Despite years of study and practice, Dad never thought he was talented enough to make a living creating art. We’ll never know because he joined the telephone company and didn’t look back. When confronted with a difficult problem, he would sometimes say, “I’m just a fine arts major.” Nevertheless, his drawings, sketches, and paintings reflected a keen eye and a steady hand. Many were lighthearted caricatures.

Dad wrote thousands of press releases, articles, and business letters during his career. He was also a prolific writer of personal letters, first on paper and later as e-mails. The Rotary club newsletter was one assignment he particularly liked because it allowed his creativity to run wild. Like a hometown Dennis Miller, his articles were peppered with obscure references and inside jokes. Even his family was sometimes caught one step behind as he unleashed each new stream of consciousness. But it was often fun to try to keep up.

1. Joan – Dad described many times how grateful he was for the women in his life. He sincerely regretted the way his two marriages ended, but recalled with fondness the many good times. In Joan, he found a kindred spirit and fellow adventurer. She was a friend, companion, and confidant. Toward the end of his life, he referred to Joan as his “guardian angel.” He was thankful for her attentive love and steadfast support. We, his family, feel the same way. Thank you, Joan.

- – - – -

One cannot hope to distill eighty one years into a brief series of observations, but there must a tribute and this is mine. I choose to focus on the positive because that is how I will remember him. I hope his next assignment will be in a happy, silly, fun place.

Old School Square Cultural Arts Center

51 N. Swinton Avenue • Delray Beach, FL 33444 • 561-243-7922

Alternately, we are grateful for the fine work of Hospice.  These good people provided compassionate support and comfort during Dad’s difficult final hours.

Hospice of Palm Beach County

5300 East Avenue • West Palm Beach, FL 33407 • 877-494-6890

Thank you for thinking about Dad.

Summer 2007

1928 – 2009

The site is intended as a fond farewell wish for our father, Bruce.  My hope is that it will provide a venue for those who knew him to gather and remember.  We have many photographs and stories to share.  I invite you to look around and share your memories in the form of comments.

Thank you for being a part of his life!

Brian   12/29/09