Andrew Galosic

He was the older brother to his sisters Milena and Olga, growing up on the island of Unije. Times were difficult when losing their mother at a very young age - he was just 9.

He courageously escaped Communism on a small boat by himself, traveled around the world as a Merchant Marine, always mentioning a great time on Christmas Island, finally jumping ship and settling in New York.

He built a life for himself in Astoria, working at the Steinway Piano Factory and later becoming a Union Boilermaker, always providing for his family.

He married Laura on July 27, 1963 and they celebrated the huge accomplishment of 50 years together in 2013. She spotted him at Church and they met through a mutual friend. The rest is history!

Andy was creative, adventurous and athletic, enjoying tennis, biking, skiing, sailing, traveling to Europe and enjoying the home life he built for his wife and two daughters, Jane and Julie. He started enjoying many of these hobbies more frequently in his 40’s. His friend says, “he was a colorful guy!”

He happily retired in 2002, and started to enjoy a leisurely daily routine. He enjoyed mornings reading the New York Times, spending hours with each issue. He often enjoyed a bowl of Cheerios or hot dogs, with his grandson sitting on his knee.

His greatest joy was his grandson, Luka. He spent every day watching him, holding him for hours in his arms while he slept as a baby. When he put him down, he’d cry, so he didn’t mind holding him up to 3 hours in his arms, looking at his ‘gorgeous face and little nose’ as he used to say.

He loved dancing, listening to Mariachi music in his ‘man cave’, the garage, and playing the guitar. His signature outfit was a white undershirt and a button down shirt un-buttoned, cutoff jean shorts during the summers. All an ode to the island lifestyle he grew up with. The past couple years, he was content with a very simple, peaceful life, just people watching through his picture window and sitting on his porch with his dear wife, Laura.

He had a Destroyer Ship tattoo on his forearm that he got when he was a Merchant Marine traveling around the world. We believe it may have been in Seattle. He drew it himself and the tattoo artist created it on his arm. Afterward, it was a bit too small, so he added what looked like oars and made it into a rowboat sort of creation.

He had many one liners and liked to joke around, although he was more of a quiet type engrossed in his thoughts. When someone would ask ‘how are you feeling?’ He’d reply, “With my fingers.”

He was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer in May 2011, despite being very aware of the prostate issues that men face and having his PSA tested every year. The journey and fight of our lives began that Memorial Day weekend. The first hospital stay was almost 5 weeks long. We were there every day, all day. A month of radiation followed, along with hormone pills that stopped working quickly, two 10-cycles of chemo to ‘manage’ the cancer that actually worked for him. No major side effects except for losing his hair. He slowly became more weak and thin, but we were continuously hopeful, and happy to have him with us. During this time, our relationships changed and we came to understand each other more. The strong, tough man we once knew, was now filled with fear, becoming weak, but also expressing his love for us on a daily basis. He’d always say, ‘I love you Luka’, with Luka responding, ‘me too’. He started sharing ‘bear hugs’ with his wife before going to sleep. He told his daughters, he loved us nearly every day.

The 2 years and 9 months of dealing with illness brought us even closer together; a blessing and a curse to have shared those special moments - all the ups and downs, all the doctor appointments, the pain and heartache, the unknowing and the hope. We pulled together as a family, and were with him every step of the way. We entered the ER on New Year’s Eve entering 2014, and the next two months were excruciating – complications, a try at rehabilitation and the realization that things could not turn back around. Despite it all, we wish we were still on that journey together as a family, but alas, it has ended and he is now in peace.

Our hearts are broken and we will never be the same. Miss and love you to the best Husband, Dad and Nonno.

Andy is survived by his wife, Laura Galosic, his daughter Jane Galosic, his daughter Julie Butkovic, son-in-law Ivan Butkovic, Grandson Luka Butkovic, whom he tremendously loved, Sister Olga Galosic, Niece Janja Kavcic, Niece Joann DeStefanno and her husband Carmine, their children Michael, Matthew and Rosanna, along with many more family members and friends.