Peter M. Galde

Peter Mason Galde(October 19, 1942 – July 12, 2009)+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++MEMORIAL SERVICE:Sunday, July 26th, 2009 at 4:00 p.m.Christ Community Church1000 S. Park Victoria Drive, Milpitas, CA 95035+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Loving husband, father, and friend, Peter Mason Galde passed away at his home in Danville, California on July 12th, 2009 at age 66. Surrounded by Kathy Phillips Galde, best friend and wife of 41 years, and his three sons Todd, Joshua, and Wade, Peter said good bye to this world listening to the voices of his family singing the great hymn, Amazing Grace. Dad, we’re going to miss you…Born October 19th, 1942 in Buffalo, New York as the first son of Lloyd and Dorothy Galde, Peter burst forth with an enthusiastic love for life, and he died with the same love of life and people. In 1946, Peter’s family moved from Buffalo to Dallas, Texas where he established his “Texas roots” and where the Galde family and Phillips family became best of friends. Amazingly, Peter met his wife-to-be, Kathy, when she was only a baby. Now that’s an arranged marriage! They did not formally meet until Kathy was a freshman at North Texas State and Pete was a promoter for the Christian singing group, the Spurrlow’s. The year was 1967.Peter and Kathy dated for almost two years, married in 1968, and promptly moved to Milpitas, California where they “set up shop” for the next 35 years. Peter was hired as a teacher for Milpitas Unified School District and taught at Russell Junior High and helped open up “brand new” Milpitas High School around 1970. As a History and ultimately Journalism teacher, Peter molded and mentored the lives of hundreds of students, many of whom will be attending the memorial service on July 26th.At the same time, Peter was privileged to be a part of the original Milpitas Young Life Club, now almost 40 years and counting. For over 10 years, Peter and Kathy hosted between 50-100 kids at their home every Monday night, along with MHS teachers Don Close, Bob Kellogg, Jerry Heinrichs, and Bob Sharpe.During the late 70’s, Peter obtained his administrative credential and became the Associated Student Body Vice Principal. Peter headed up the planting of the original trees and foliage at the newly-built Milpitas High School. Most of these trees are still standing today, providing shade and beauty for our next generation.In 1979, Peter left the career of educating kids to begin a Mortgage Banking career where he utilized his teaching skills to educate new home buyers and residential mortgage borrowers. Never forgetting his roots in education, Peter continued to invest time and money into the kids and parents of Milpitas High School as the President of the Milpitas High Athletic Booster Club, chairman of Young Life Milpitas, and as President of the Milpitas Rotary Club. Peter helped organize fund raisers and activities to benefit the high school and its students.In 1989, Peter convinced Henry Manayan to run for city council and ultimately, Mayor of Milpitas. He headed up both of Henry’s very successful campaigns. During the run for Mayor, Henry said of Peter, “He has a very, very high sense of integrity. He’s a good, Christian man.” At the same time, Peter was getting heavily involved in the Bay Area Promise Keepers (PK) movement, a men’s’ organization that would hold annual conferences to praise God and help men to become better husbands and fathers. In fact, in 2001 Peter orchestrated “keeping the lights on” for the convention in San Jose following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, when every other PK convention cancelled or postponed.In 1993, Peter cut back on much of his activities due to the beginning of heart challenges. On a trip to Arizona with the family, Peter’s heart stopped entirely for over one minute. Doctors got it going again, and he decided to hang on for another 16 years! At the time, Peter was president of the Boosters Club at Milpitas High, a position he’d held for 10 years. Although he resigned from this post, as well as Young Life and Rotary, Peter didn’t “drop out” from helping others. He and Kathy became official foster parents to teens in the area, just like the ones they invited into their home every week for over 10 years.In addition to the heart challenges, Peter’s kidneys began to fail and in 2003 he received a kidney from his longtime friend, college roommate, and Best Man at his wedding, Gil Hoffer. After 6 years of additional life, Peter ultimately passed away due to renal failure.Over the past nine years, Peter had become an integral part of the lives of his grandchildren, Emily (9), JT (5), and Ella (3), helping instill the qualities he’d become known for including integrity, a zealous love of life, and most importantly, putting people first. Today, the children know where he is, commenting daily since his death, “Papaw’s in heaven…”Our dad is resting at peace in God’s hands now… and that is a good thing. He always approached life with childlike enthusiasm. We must all come to God as small children. We know the world could use a lot more of his spirit and we will miss him dearly.Please hold one another close this day… and every day. We don’t know what time we have on this earth. Every day is precious and should be treated as such. May God bless your time as you spend it with friends and family.Peter is survived by his beautiful wife Kathy of Danville, CA, his three sons, Todd (40) and daughter-in-law, Stacey (including Emily, JT, and Ella) of Danville, CA; Josh (35) of San Francisco, CA; and Wade (34) and daughter-in-law, Megan of San Ramon, CA. Peter is also survived by his brothers, Ted Galde and Dan Galde of Prescott, AZ, his sister Susan Reiman Galde of Portland, OR, and many nieces and nephews.The Memorial Service to celebrate Peter’s amazing life is scheduled for Sunday, July 26th at 4:00 p.m. and will take place at Christ Community Church located at 1000 S. Park Victoria Church in Milpitas, California. For more information, please visit www.PeteGalde.com. In lieu of flowers, you may make a donation in Peter’s memory to Young Life Silicon Valley East, 2530 Berryessa Road, #133, San Jose, CA 95132 (408-286-6374) or visit http://SiliconValleyEast.younglife.org.