Fred Galey took his final flight peacefully surrounded by family and love on Friday, October 2. When he ran for Supervisor of Elections, we had a “Who is Fred Galey?” campaign button. We find ourselves giving a glimpse into the legacy of a man who was so many things in a life of almost 87 years. Fittingly, his initials were F.G., and so much of his life can be told in F’s and G’s.
Family: Family was everything to him. He was a husband of 61 years to his wife Fran, a father of Fred Jr. and Kimberly, a father-in-law to Amy (Scott) Galey and Michael Oates, a grandfather to his “six-pack” — Mary Frances, Jack and Sam Galey; Patricia (Oates) Lowther, Samantha and Liam Oates. He was predeceased by his parents, Hugh Galey and Thelma (Conwell) Galey and his brother Maurice Galey.
Flight: He grew up on a farm in Indiana before setting off to the University of Miami and then joining the USAF as a pilot. He flew in Vietnam, piloted the C-133, C-7 and C-9, and rose to the rank of Colonel before serving as base commander at Patrick Air Force Base, where his mission included supporting the activity at Cape Canaveral and NASA. He had tremendous pride in his son Fred Jr., who followed in his footsteps as a pilot, graduated from the United States Air Force Academy and served a career in the US Air Force.
Finance: He had a master’s degree in business from Auburn and served as a comptroller in the Air Force. He always followed the financial markets and he took pride in his daughter’s career in finance.
Fighter: He fought multiple sclerosis (MS) courageously for 25 years, the last 20 of which he spent in a wheelchair. In true fighting fashion, he twice outlived his doctors’ predictions before his final flight.
Fran: He loved his wife completely, and after they met at University of Miami, where she was a cheerleader, he became her biggest fan. They loved to dance and, of course, root on their Hurricanes as they traveled the world and raised their family. As his body increasingly denied him the ability to do things independently, he relied upon her above all.
Government: Fred was deeply patriotic, and after his career in the Air Force ended, he had a second career in government. He served as Supervisor of Elections in Brevard County for 16 years, including the “hanging chad” era. While he retired from office as MS took a toll on his physical ability, he had full command and control of his mind and could speak to election issues. It was fitting that his ballot for the upcoming election came in the mail the day he passed away.
Golf: Fred loved golf. His disease robbed him of his ability to play way too soon. When he became base commander at Patrick, he made sure the Satellite High School boys’ and girls’ golf teams could practice and play there. He helped coordinate volunteers for the Suntree Classic and played in it several times before the tournament was discontinued. He took great pride in his family’s successes in golf. Fred Jr. played collegiate golf at the US Air Force Academy. When Fred could no longer play, he watched golf either on TV or at Suntree. He’d use his wheelchair to go out on the course and watch the collegiate tournaments that Suntree would host. Of course, he’d be rooting for the Miami women’s team when they came through. He was instrumental in the Veterans Bridge Memorial that’s on the 18th hole on the Suntree Challenge course.
A visitation and memorial service will be held at Florida Memorial Gardens on November 7th and a Celebration of Life will be held the following day.
His life is a mission accomplished. Fly with the eagles, Fred.