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Obituary: Galen G. Kelly, 77, Lowville
Published: August 06, 2024
By: Provided by Sundquist Funeral Home
Galen G. Kelly
 LOWVILLE- Galen G. Kelly,
77, died early Saturday morning, August 3, 2024, at his home in Lowville under the care
of his family and Lewis County Hospice. He will be terribly missed by
his family and his faithful dog, Leo.
Galen was born on
January 13, 1947,
in Englewood, NJ, the son of the late Michael J. and
Marie E. (Knapp) Kelly. He was a graduate from New York Military Academy
in Cornwall.
He graduated from Bloomfield
College in Bloomfield, NJ,
and The Backster School of Lie Detection.
Mr. Kelly was a
Licensed Investigator, Exit Counselor and Deprogrammer. He was well known
throughout the US
and Europe as a foremost authority on
subversive organizations including; cults, organized
crime and terrorism. Before founding his own Investigative Consulting
company, G. Kelly Associates, Mr. Kelly worked as the Vice President of the
Investigative and Polygraph division of Managed Safeguard Industries.
Galen was a hero
in every sense of the term. The common thread of his life was to work
for the benefit of others, often by placing himself at great risk. He
was a consummate professional, an acknowledged expert at his craft. As a
Deprogrammer he designed and carried out scores of rescue operations for
individuals ensnared by cults, extremist groups or organizations of undue
influence. The great majority of these efforts were successful with
the outcome being the return of individuals to their family and a re-establishment
of the individual’s freely chosen life pursuit.
During his
career, he was the recipient of the Martin Luther King Award, presented by
the Congress of Racial Equality, and was an Adjunct Professor at Rutgers University in New Jersey where he taught Criminal
Justice and Hostage Negotiation. His earliest achievement in life was being
awarded The Belgian Croix de Guerre for “bravery in the face of the enemy”,
while serving in the Republic of the Congo from 1967 to 1968.
Galen married the
love of his life Elizabeth Thoma on April 20, 1974, at First Presbyterian Church Palisades Park,
NJ.
Surviving is his
wife, Elizabeth, his daughter and son-in-law, Michelle (Tom) Hiscott, his
son and daughter-in-law, Dillon (Andrea) Kelly, and his grandchildren,
Sophia, Lily, Victoria, Charlotte, Quinn, and Redmond.
He is predeceased
by his daughter, Meghann Kelly.
Galen was a newly
made member of First Presbyterian Church, Lowville, was an avid collector
of miniature Britians soldiers and pre-Civil War
military arms, a Master Mason of Mt. Vernon Lodge No. 3, F. & A.M., and
past member of the Old
Dutch Church
in Kingston,
where he served several terms as Elder.
Calling hours for
family and friends will be August
23, 2024 from 5:00pm to 8:00pm at the Sundquist Funeral Home.
A memorial
service will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Lowville with Rev.
Greg Jenkins, officiating, on August 24, 2024 at 11:00am.
The family
requests that in lieu of flowers, a donation be made to the First
Presbyterian Church of Lowville in Galen’s
name.
On-line
condolence of sympathy may be made to: www.sundquistfh.com
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