Roy James Galloway

Roy Galloway passed away peacefully with his wife and daughter by his side on May 11, 2026 at Dartmouth General Hospital at the age of 83. Roy was born on April 30, 1943 in Geraldton, Ontario and lived the first 18 years of his life on the move. His father was a mine manager so they moved constantly and lived in many different parts of Canada from one ocean coast to the other, as well as a year in Nicaragua where he spent 6 months living in the jungle with his parents and 6 months in a boarding house while he went to school. He learned Spanish in a hurry. While living in Newfoundland he met his first wife, Alvina and they moved to Yellowknife, NT to start their family and a new career. After working for a time in a gold mine there, he finally got his dream job – morning dee jay for CBC radio. He loved every moment of being on the air, getting involved in the local music business, helping promote new bands in the area. He also did volunteer work for many organizations, including the Lion’s Club, where fundraising was his strength. He was also involved heavily in Ham Radio, enjoying talking to people around the world and helping coordinate the Radio Club people for anything needed in the area. When the cable television station started, he moved to that and was the news anchor, still coming into people’s homes everyday but now they could see him as well as hear him. While this was going on, they were blessed with two children, Susan and Phillip. Eventually, in the late 70s, Roy moved out of the North to Calgary and at that time his wife and children stayed in Yellowknife. Roy spent a few years making many good friends (some of whom are still part of our lives) and working for CNCP on their microwave and satellite systems. In 1981 he decided it was time to quit the job and travel the country in his truck and camper for a while. He got as far as Saskatchewan when he met his next ‘forever’ wife Jo-Anne, and the rest, as they say, is history. Roy helped run the family store for nearly two years, where they were joined by his children, Susan and Phillip. He was so happy to have his children living with him again, this time as teenagers. He joined Gandalf Data in 1983 when they sold the store and moved first to Calgary, before he was promoted to a position in Winnipeg, and finally to a position in Dartmouth, NS in 1985. The job ended 18 months later, at which time he did a variety of things, including teaching at several different colleges, and finally he came into his own with software development. He worked on a number of different projects, proving that an old dog can learn new tricks. His crowning achievement was developing a shipping tracker type program that scheduled ships from the great lakes, down the eastern seaboard and up the west coast of the US. He retired at age 80 so he could enjoy more of life without the concerns of keeping all those ships scheduled. In 2012 he was profoundly shocked and saddened by the death of his son, Phillip. It fundamentally changed something inside of him and how he thought about family. Certain relationships became much more precious to him. Roy’s hobbies over his lifetime are too numerous to even remember properly. He was interested in everything. Ham radio, playing guitar, amateur photography, learning German for a couple of wonderful vacations there, learning American Sign Language when he had a deaf student. He volunteered for a time at local radio station and enjoyed creating his own shows while back on the air again. He loved playing flight simulator, tinkering with anything computer related, and simply never wanted to stop learning. In recent years, as his health declined, he spent much more time at home, enjoying meals out at restaurants, exploring the Halifax boardwalk, going for drives down the South shore when family visited. Roy is survived by his loving wife of nearly 45 years, Jo-Anne, his daughter Susan (Rob), grandchildren Alex (Ashley) and Erica (Travis), great-grandchildren Grayson, Waylon, Jill, and his brother Bill of NB. He is also survived by a very large family of in-laws who he became very close to over the years, from his step mother-in-law, to sibling in-laws, nieces, nephews, and cousins through several generations. He also had a number of close friends, near and far, who were a large part of his life. Roy was predeceased by his son, Phillip, and his parents, Walter and Sadie Galloway. Roy’s family wishes to offer our deepest appreciation and thanks to the doctors and nurses and all staff who cared for him on his final journey. 4 West in the Dartmouth General had almost become a second home to him the last few years. A community hospital, such as they are, has a way of enveloping patients into their family fold, making the care feel so personal. Dr. Morgan was the soul of compassion and care as she led Roy and his family through a valiant battle to save him, which transformed to ensure he was as comfortable as possible in his final days. There were a number of other doctors involved as well who were also devoted to his care. His nurses were spectacular, as nurses often are, with some of them becoming very special to Roy and his family – Christina, Edna, Jillian and Judy brought smiles, gentle care, and often a teasing wit that he loved. Particular thanks to Dr. Sarah Ramer, the cardiologist who saved his life nearly 22 years ago and remained a friend as well as his doctor ever since. She was a very bright light for him, in the best possible way. Special thanks to Jayne and Rod, who brought meals, tea, snacks, and smiles every day to the family in hospital and countless others who offered daily messages of support. Anyone wishing to make a donation in memory of Roy, please give to the VON Halifax. They do spectacular work and spent a lot of time with Roy over the years. Arrangements entrusted to https://www.harboursidecremation.ca/ There will be no funeral or visitation at Roy’s request/demand. (He was a man of firm opinions, which his family respects.)

Roy James Galloway

April 30, 1943 - May 11, 2026