Lawrence (Larry) Galm (75), a 45-year resident of Alpine, died at his home September 15th from Malignant Melanoma. He had been ill for 18 months and under the care of Kaiser Hospice for nine days.
Larry, who was well known around town, because of his 25 years as a clerk at the Alpine Post Office, and before that, as a 10-year employee of the Local defunct Empire Market During the 1970’s.
Lawrence (Larry) Galm (75), a 45-year resident of Alpine, died at his home September 15th from Malignant Melanoma. He had been ill for 18 months and under the care of Kaiser Hospice for nine days.
Larry, who was well known around town, because of his 25 years as a clerk at the Alpine Post Office, and before that, as a 10-year employee of the Local defunct Empire Market During the 1970’s.
Hailing from Fairport Harbor, Ohio, he was a graduate of Ohio State University, with a degree in Math and Science. He planned to be a high school teacher after serving his NROTC obligation to the U.S. Navy, but enjoyed the Navy so much, he decided to make the military his career. Plans changed, however, when he met his future wife, Sandi, in the Philippines in 1966, while his squadron was deployed there for missions during the Vietnam War. They married after knowing each other for only four months. She grew up in a Navy family for somewhere permanent, so he resigned his naval commission in 1967. Larry and Sandi moved to Alpine from Santa Monica in 1971 after her parents retired from the Navy and bought the Empire Market ) where Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurant is now located. The two couples ran the market together for almost ten years. Later, Larry went to work at the Alpine Post Office and retired in 2005.
The Galm’s are members of Queen of Angels Catholic Church and Larry was a charter member of the local chapter of The Knights of Columbus and the former theatrical group, The Alpine Players. He won awards for his technical expertise from associated Community Theatres of San Diego (ACT), a group which promoted excellence in community theatre productions. Most memorable was when he made it rain on the stage at the Alpine Elementary School during the group’s production of “The Rainmaker”.
The Galms were looking forward to celebrating their 50th anniversary in November.
Larry is survived by his wife, two grown children: Jarrod Galm, 38 (Heather) of Meridian, Idaho and Meredith Hatton, 32, (Micah) of Descanso,; plus four grandchildren, Michaela, 2, and Amanda Galm, six months; Dawson Rich, 9 and Elise Hatton, 11; and an older sister Christine Merchak of Whittier, CA plus assorted nieces and nephews all over the country.
A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, October 1, 2016 at 1 p.m. at Queen of Angels Catholic Church on Victoria drive. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the church or any charity of choice. Any correspondence should be mailed to the Galm’s Post Office Box 579, Alpine, CA 91903.
