Galen died Dec. 26, 2009, of pancreatic cancer at his Honolulu home.
He came to us from Punahou School, President Obama’s alma mater. He dined at Key and Seal and roomed with Bob Kearns ’63 and Micky Wolfson ’63. Galen majored in English, graduating magna cum laude. Subsequently, he received a law degree from Harvard.
Working at the Honolulu law firm of Ashford & Wriston for 44 years, Galen became an expert in condominium law and a managing partner. When local condominium development diminished in 2000, he redirected his efforts to estate planning.
Galen was active in the arts community and chaired The Contemporary Museum’s board and collections efforts. He also served on the boards of the Hawaii Opera Theatre, Foster Botanical Gardens, Volcano Art Center, and PARTners (an arts support group). Helping design Ashford’s new law offices, he shared his extensive contemporary art collection with the firm.
Galen traveled frequently to San Francisco and New York to see art, attend operas, and visit classmates and friends. An avid birdwatcher, he also traveled to exotic locales around the world.
The class extends its condolences to his companion, Timothy P. Ojile; his mother, Irene; son Dylan; and four siblings.