Brian Galligan

It is with great sadness that I announce the unexpected death of Brian Galligan, my soulmate and husband of 38 years. Brian was stricken suddenly with cardiac arrest caused by Hypoplastic coronary artery disease, and died in our home the morning of May 31, 2021 in Redmond, Oregon. Brian was born in Manhattan, New York on July 16, 1955, the third child of Joseph J. Galligan and Muriel R. Caldwell. The young family moved to Blauvelt, New York where he grew up with his two siblings and graduated from Tappen Zee High School in 1973. Like his brother (class of 1969) and sister (class of 1974), he attended Wagner College in Staten Island, New York and graduated in 1977 with a Bachelor's of Arts degree in History and a minor in Business Administration. Seeking new job opportunities, Brian moved to Denver, Colorado in 1978. We met while working at Standard & Poor's in 1980 and found we had many things in common; the love of photography, music, skiing, camping and exploring the beautiful state of Colorado. He was so easy to talk to and made me laugh. We were married in a beautiful mountain Chapel in Golden, Colorado on October 9, 1982, surrounded by family and friends. Brian began his career as a Statistician at Standard & Poor's in 1978 and had achieved the position of Assistant Manager by the time he left the company in 1985. He started at Automatic Data Processing in 1988 when we were living in Denver. Wanting a change in scenery, he took a position in Clackamas, Oregon in 1993. He held multiple positions during his career at ADP. In 2002, after a few stressful years for both of us, we decided a change was needed. We looked at each other and said "let's go on sabbatical." We sold the house, bought a motorhome, put our belongings into storage and went for a nine-month road trip. Leaving the stress behind, we experienced great freedom and enjoyment visiting family and friends, riding bikes, hiking, learning to play golf, and just relaxing. I now look back on our 24/7 time together as a huge blessing in my life. When the trip ended, we found a home in Eugene, Oregon and Brian began working for ADP again, traveling and training. He was good at what he did and I was envious of his patience while training others. He stopped working in 2013 when we moved to Denver. We moved to Bend, Oregon in 2017 after a few years of living in Denver, then moved to Redmond in 2020. He enjoyed his "retirement" in Central Oregon riding bikes, hiking, camping, walking the dog and cooking. When he wasn't on the go, he had a book, newspaper, or iPad in front of him doing his most favorite thing, reading and staying informed. Brian was an avid reader from a very young age. Before he was old enough to start school, his sister Barbara would come home from school and teach him what she had learned that day. Brian really enjoyed sports, particularly baseball and basketball and his knowledge of "all things" made him an unbeatable trivia opponent. There are many things about Brian that made him so endearing, but I was always touched by how he was with his nieces and nephews. He never judged them and was always available, open and honest when they confided in him. Many of them have told me they could talk to their uncle about any-thing. I feel their loss as well as my own. I know some did not get to know him as well as others, but he loved them all very much. Brian is preceded in death by his parents Joseph J. Galligan and Muriel R. Caldwell. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth (Betsy) Galligan; brother, Stephen Galligan (Eagan, MN); sister, Barbara Whitsit (Waldoboro, ME); and 17 Nieces and 12 Nephews (including Grand and Great-Grand versions). He is also survived by a multitude of cousins and in-laws. Services provided by Redmond Memorial Chapel. There will be a private family service in Minnesota. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to a charity of your choice.

Brian Galligan

July 16, 1955 - May 31, 2021