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George A. Galati MAT ’70

September 19, 2022, in Portland.

A Portland native, George attended St. Lawrence Grade School, Central Catholic High School, and the University of Portland, where he earned both his bachelor’s degree and a master’s in education. After his undergraduate studies, George entered active duty in the U.S. Air Force and served at the early warning radar base on Neah Bay, Washington. After 10 years with the air force reserves, he was honorably discharged with the rank of captain.

He met Ann Hilger at the University of Portland; they married in 1956 and raised four children. Both George and Ann were educators. George started teaching at La Center High School in Washington, and in the ’60s taught and was activities director at Portland’s Grant High School. In 1970, he got his MA from Reed, where he wrote his thesis, “Futility and Enlightenment in the Five Works of Ernest Hemingway,” advised by Prof. Howard Waskow [English 1964–72]. He became vice principal of discipline and curriculum at Lincoln High School and in 1980 was transferred to Roosevelt High School, where he retired as principal in 1993. George finished his career as adjunct professor of education at the University of Portland.

Throughout his career and retirement, George was committed to community and faith. After retiring from Roosevelt High School, he worked to develop a scholarship fund for girls at the school, which already had a similar fund for boys. He was on the board of the Peninsula Optimist Club, was a lifelong blood donor at the American Red Cross, and, as a devout Catholic, attended and supported Holy Redeemer Catholic Church for 65 years. Preceded in death by his wife, Ann, and his daughter, Margaret, George is survived by his sons, Rev. Anthony Galati, Joseph Galati, and Christopher Galati.

Appeared in Reed magazine: March 2018