Michael G. (Jerry) Galay, 71, of Bridgewater, NJ, died unexpectedly in his sleep at home on Thursday, November 22nd. A 1965 graduate of Olyphant (PA) High School, after 16 years of local employment with Weston, Parodi, and PennDOT, Michael attended Fordham University in NYC. Michael designed and managed data centers in Boston, Maryland, Manhattan and Newark during his 15 years with Thomson Financial and its predecessor Securities Data Corp. Michael and team rebuilt in Newark the Manhattan data center within one week after its destruction on 9/11. He later designed IT disaster-planning strategy for CIT until retirement. Preceded in death by his parents, Michael and Mary Gazella Galaydick, he is survived by his wife of 37 years, Joan Sembrat, and two brothers-in-law, Robert Sembrat, Olyphant, and George Sembrat, Johnson City, along with many cousins and life-long friends. A devoted fan of NASCAR and Penn State football, Michael’s vocation was fire-fighting. Former Volunteer Fire Chief of Olyphant, he was a 12-year member of Bridgewater’s Green Knoll Volunteer Fire Department, where he had been Trustee, chief driver, and designer of GK’s new apparatus. He was a member of the Kingsbury #466 Masonic Lodge in Olyphant. Michael’s warm, gracious, giving style was widely appreciated by all who knew him. Earth lost another angel this day. Funeral mass will be 10am Saturday at Ss Cyril and Methodius Ukrainian Catholic Church, 135 N River St, Olyphant, PA. Friends may call 4-8pm Thursday at the Bruce C. VanArsdale Funeral Home, 111 N. Gaston Ave, Somerville, NJ and also 4-8pm Friday at Eureka Fire Co #4, 717 E Grant St, Olyphant, PA. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Eureka Fire Co #4, 717 E Grant St, Olyphant, PA or the Green Knoll Fire Company #1, PO Box 6004, Bridgewater, NJ 08807. To send condolences, visit www.brucecvanarsdalefuneralhome.com.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Michael G Jerry Galay 2018.
Bruce C. VanArsdale Funeral Home
Death notice for the town of: Somerville, state: New Jersey