William Henry Gaal

One of Bill’s favorite quotes is from Etienne De Grellet: “I shall pass this way but once; any good that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being; let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”

Those who know Bill (“that guy with the mustache”) … know that he did a lot of good. He always felt his work contributed to our country and beyond, and he loved to mentor others into their greatness. He loved his country and encouraged others to do the same (for example, by leading The Pledge of Allegiance at staff meetings). His family basked in a love that was steady and always supportive. We benefited from his counsel, his humor, and his “10 Minute Rule” – which dictated that, after 10 minutes, he would relinquish any anger. He enjoyed good friends, dining well, travel, science fiction and "partner yoga." :)

Bill was born in 1946 in Queens, New York, and attended Grammar School at Mount Saint Joseph in Newburg, NY, and Salesian High School in New Rochelle, NY. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1966-1970, achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant, and subsequently spent two years in the Air Force Reserves. He attended the University of Dayton, OH, and graduated from the University of Maryland with a B.S., plus an M.S. pending.

He first married Beverly Davis and had his only son, William Thomas Gaal, in 1970 while living in Hawaii. In 1987, he met Luann and Lauren Fulbright and married them in 1992. He was an avid sailor, including sailing “across the pond” in a rickety 34-foot Cheoy Lee – which was the catalyst to Bill and Luann getting married. When he proposed for this last time, he told her, “Sailing across the ocean is like a man going off to war. You have to say yes, because you wouldn’t want to send a man off to war broken-hearted!”

Bill was born to William Daniel Gaal and Eleanor Marie Wunner, who later married Bill Ranallo—the bodyguard, confidant and good friend to Dag Hammarskjold, the Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1953 to 1961. Ranallo and Hammarskjold died together in plane crash near Ndola, Zambia, in September of 1961 while on a peace mission for the United Nations. Bill’s son says, “My dad always considered Bill Ranallo to be his real dad; he had a great influence on my father as a young man. While they lost him too soon to this terrible tragedy, the time that they spent together left an imprint that would last my father’s entire lifetime. Back then, dad went by the name ‘Skip’ and, much like the way I look up to my dad as my hero, I know he felt the same about Bill Ranallo. Dad always shared stories with me about wonderful summers at the lake house in Brewster, NY, trips to the United Nations building in New York City, and lessons learned from a great man. Knowing that they are together again brings joy to my heart.”

Bill Gaal was preceded in death by his mother, father and granddaughter Violet Anne Gaal. He is also survived in death by his brother, Richard Alan Gaal (living in Florida), and family; his daughter-in-law Toni Lynn Gaal and his granddaughter Juliette Ivey Gaal, who live with son Bill in Baltimore, Maryland.