Dawn Ann (Napolitano) Galindo

Dawn Ann (Napolitano) Galindo was born on Long Island, NY, to Patricia Heckman and Stephen Napolitano. As a child, she was quite curious. The eldest of four sisters, Dawn often helped her mother care for Shawn, Doreen, and Coleen. Her mother remembered her as a mature and responsible babysitter. Her younger sisters light-heartedly recalled Dawn as a puppet master, often influencing the girls’ behaviors and attitudes. While Dawn’s babysitting style may have ruffled a few feathers, the love she had for her little sisters was prodigious.

Dawn attended Commack High School for two years, where she was a cheerleader. After her stepfather, Raymond Heckman earned a new job opportunity; the family relocated to Florida. Subsequently, Dawn graduated from Boca Raton High School in 1976 then decided to enlist in the United States Air Force. She trained at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX. She pioneered the growing role for women in the military’s communication technology division in the late seventies and early eighties. As an Electronic Computer and Switching Systems Specialist, Ms. Napolitano was recognized as Airman of the Month for the 2035th Communications Squadron, earned the rank of Sergeant, and was awarded a Good Conduct medal.

After Dawn's various stops in New York, Florida, Texas, Mississippi, and California, she eventually settled in San Antonio. One night in 1984, she and a friend attended a jam session in a stranger’s garage. That stranger, David Galindo, strumming his wine red Gibson Les Paul guitar caught her eye. After the music stopped, Dawn proceeded to ask Dave out for a drink. He refused because of his early morning work obligations. Invariably fiery and determined, Dawn replied, “What’s the matter? Can’t you handle it?” Just over a year later, in December of 1985, Dawn and Dave were married in Boca Raton, FL, in the presence of family and friends.

Dawn and Dave raised two children, Amber Dawn and David Christopher, in their over thirty-five years of marriage. While balancing the duties of motherhood, Dawn managed to graduate from San Antonio College in 1993 as a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. As a Registered Nurse, she worked in pediatrics, oncology, home health, and education. Mrs. Galindo also worked as a Case Manager and Director of Nursing over her nearly twenty-year career. Despite all of her military and professional accomplishments, she insisted her proudest achievements were her children. Dawn supported Amber and David in all of their endeavors: soccer, track, basketball, music, and college were but a few of them. More recently, she supported them in their marriages with their spouses Josh and Jennifer, both of whom she developed a deep affection for and loved as her own.

Dawn wore many hats in her sixty-two years of life, including daughter, curious toddler, niece, big sister, rebellious teenager, friend, swimmer, Airman, wife, mother, nurse, soccer mom, animal lover, aunt, Spurs fan, mother-in-law, and eventually grandmother. She always lit up a room as the largest personality with the loudest mouth. She traveled to nearly twenty countries and loved her trips to the beach. Like a second mother to Amber and David’s friends, her care for others seemed endless. Her selflessness extended to her four-legged friends as well. Over the years, she volunteered at several local animal shelters. Her “Boogie,” grandson Jesse, always had a special place in her heart. Like a type of mini-hurricane, Jesse’s ferocity and presence resemble that of “Hurricane Dawn” of the next generation.

Mrs. Dawn Galindo was preceded in death by Stephen F. Napolitano (father), Stephen and Mary Napolitano, Leo and Rose McIsaac, Charles and Helen Heckman (grandparents), Jesse and Dominga Galindo (father and mother-in-law), Louis Garza (brother-in-law), Margaret Martinez (sister-in-law), and Darla McIsaac (aunt). She is survived by David Galindo (husband), Amber and Josh Gerken, David Christopher Galindo and Dr. Jennifer Statler (children), Jesse Gerken (grandson), Patricia and Raymond Heckman (mother and stepfather), Jeanne Napolitano (stepmother), Shawn Benedict, Doreen Tobey, Dr. Coleen Martin, and Jodie Connors (sisters), Sylvia Garza (sister-in-law), Edward Martinez, John Benedict, Patrick Tobey, Brian Martin, and Joe Connors (brother-in-laws), Edward and Jennifer Garza, Sylvia Hilinski, Connor and Chase Benedict, Roberta Martinez, Donna Willis, Cheryl Tapia, and Eddie Martinez (nieces and nephews), Michael and Kathie Reed, Bob, Margaret, and Keith McIsaac (aunts and uncles).

Visitation will be held on June 26, 2021, at 2:00 pm at Sunset Northwest Funeral Home, 6321 Bandera Road, San Antonio, TX. Memorial Service will be held on June 26, 2021, at 3:00 pm at Sunset Northwest Funeral Home, 6321 Bandera Road, San Antonio, TX. Committal Service will be held on June 28, 2021, at 9:45 am at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, 1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd., San Antonio, TX.

Please consider donating to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of South Central Texas or the San Antonio Humane Society in lieu of flowers.