Victor John Galay

Victor John Galay, aged 84, made his departure on Oct 2, 2023. His passing contained a quiet peacefulness in stark contrast to the magnitude and vibrancy of his life. Vic was a passionate man from the moment he was born on Oct 30th, 1938, alongside his twin brother Carl, in the southern Manitoba town of Beausejour.

Lena and John Galay had their hands full with these two as Vic always fondly recalled a childhood of mischievousness and wonderful (in his perspective) pranks. Whether tipping over outhouses at Halloween or encouraging friends to eat ‘smarten up pills’ (actually rabbit droppings which Vic would say, “Once you eat ‘em, you smarten up!”), the brothers never lacked for ways to wreak havoc on their small town. All of this was very likely to the dismay of their younger brother Ted, who was far more gentle in nature. Luckily Vic also funneled his energy into some constructive pursuits, such as ice hockey and fixing up cars with his father. They would take apart every piece of a car engine and put them back together just to learn how it worked. After high school Vic continued on into civil engineering graduating with the class of ‘61 from the University of Manitoba.

It was around this time that he was also set up on a blind date with his future-wife, soul mate, and love of his life, a nursing student named Kathie. He showed up late after some car trouble and was greeted with an unimpressed, “I don’t like to be kept waiting.” He almost said, “To hell with it,” and walked away but instead apologized because he was so taken by her beauty. Within a few months he proposed and they were married - a Ukrainian/Métis union was embraced by both families. This was only the start of Vic’s life-long nature of bucking the system and not playing by society's rules.

The newlyweds traveled by the P&O steamliner to settle in Brisbane, Australia where Vic completed his Master’s at the University of Queensland and the couple started having children. They continued traveling and relocating many times over the next few decades as their family along with Vic’s studies and career continued to expand. He earned his PhD at the University of Alberta and spent many years teaching. He was a life-long learner who passed along that joy to every student he came across.

In 1975, Vic became one of five principal directors of Northwest Hydraulic Consultants, leading the international division. Vic made a significant impact in his field of river engineering and was invited to consult on hydraulic projects around the world. He particularly enjoyed his work and collaborations with the Stó:lō Nation in B.C. He also published many recognized papers and wrote the book, “Erosion and Sedimentation in the Nepal Himalayas,” which was ahead of its time. He’s been described by colleagues as an “intellectual giant” which matches what family at home saw reflected in his giant collection of books and rocks. Much to his wife’s dismay, Vic always came home with a book (or several) and a pocket full of rocks. Any visitor to his home would likely leave with a book or a rock along with a good story of its significance. He always gave from the heart expecting nothing in return.

His childhood love for pranks matured into a love of surprises and dressing up. One year while in Bangladesh for Christmas, he offered to dress up as Santa Clause and rode an elephant handing out presents to local children. For his 25th wedding anniversary in Nepal, he dyed his graying hair black and dressed up like the King of Nepal, fooling many of our Nepali family friends. He was always the life of the party. He loved music and he had a notable way of gliding lightly across a dance floor despite being a heavy-set guy for most of his life. He also played the classical guitar, which he’d say, “I wasn’t too bad. I wasn’t too good either.”

By the end of his life, Vic had been to 64 countries, many for work. When he traveled he went out of his way to learn the country’s customs, traditions, and ceremonies. So much so that he and Kathie adopted children from Nepal, Greece and Iran - three with special needs. He had an especially soft spot in his heart for his youngest, Mary, who lives with Down’s Syndrome.

Vic lived bravely with Alzheimer’s in the last years of his life. Despite this, he continued working and contributing throughout and had his final retirement party from NHC in late 2022. He always said, “Take me out with the garbage when I die,” not wanting any fuss. He maintained his irreverent humour until his final days where in one of his last visits he was shown a picture taken of himself that day and he commented, “That’s what I look like? I look like an a–hole!”

Vic is survived by his wife of 63 years, Kathie, and seven children, Danny, Sabina, Denise, Dena, John, Max, and Mary, as well as his brother Carl. He is predeceased by his brother, Ted, and daughter, Theo. He will forever be in the hearts of his grandchildren, Jamuna, Marina, Suna, Pasang, Himali, Sumjana, and Lucy and the youngest family member, his great-grandchild Tamakosi. The family will host a Celebration of Life at the Deep Cove Yacht Club in North Vancouver on Oct 30, 2023 from 7 to 9pm. No flowers please.

We will always remember Vic, imagining him out there with his cargo vest, pockets full of pens and rocks, likely driving off in a Lada.