Oliver C. 'Ollie' Galante, 96, Former Woburn Police Officer

Obituary courtesy of the Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home.

WOBURN, MA—Oliver C. "Ollie" Galante passed away at the Lahey Clinic,on Wednesday, April 27, with his family at his side. The beloved husband of Dorothy M. (McManus) Galante, he was 96 years of age.

Born in Bethel, Vermont Ollie was the son of the late Donato and Angelina (Tancredi) Galante. They remained in Vermont for a short while and then moved to Woburn, where they nestled in up in North Woburn, where Ollie really has made his home all his life.

He attended Woburn Schools and was a graduate of Woburn High School along with the Class of 1937. Following high school he continued his education at Burdett College. Ollie had run the Boston Marathon in, 1939, wearing number 105, placing 85th! In 1942, Ollie joined up with the United States Army, where he served his country proudly during WW II.

In 1943 he married his longtime sweetheart and the young woman whom he grew up with in North Woburn, Dotty McManus. For the next seventy three years they have shared life's journey together, side by side. They brought two children into the world to whom he was very devoted.

In 1955 Ollie was appointed to the Woburn Police Reserves by Mayor Shaughnessy and then in 1957 he was appointed to a permanent position as a Patrolman. Ollie's role in the Police Department included school truancy, beginning in 1966. When he retired in 1984 from the Police Department, as a Detective.

Ollie had continued on as being the Truant Officer for the School Department until his retirement in 2010. Throughout those years Ollie had served as the liaison between the schools and home or courthouse, home and school on some of the habitual truancies. Ollie had also mentored a lot of the students from chronic absenteism, to coming consistently back to school and achieving academic success.

Ollie was very active throughout the city. When his children were growing up he was involved in city sports where he had served as the second President of the Woburn Little League. Politics was also of great interest, both state wide and city wide. Ollie had served as Chairman of Registry of Voters right up to this year. All throughout the years Ollie would champion the Mayor's Senior Dinner doing as much as he could to assure its success. Ollie was also a charter member of the Woburn Lions Breakfast Club.

Ollie was a gentleman who knew a lot, about a lot of things. He enjoyed being with his family throughout the years. They would spend summers in York, Maine and when his daughter moved there permanently he could be there any time, which he and his wife thoroughly enjoyed. Ollie always enjoyed being in motion! He took great pride in the landscape of his home from the flowers, grass, trees all beautifully manicured. Over the years puttering was always of great interest to Ollie. If something was broken he stayed with it right back to its natural perfection! Ollie had also enjoyed golfing which he did right up to three years ago, remaining consistently straight and strong with his drive!

A faith filled man, Ollie was always doing whatever he could for St. Anthony Parish, particularly the St. Anthony Festival. This had been his parish all his life and was a very familiar person there.

All throughout the years years Ollie had a great love for his family. His wife of seventy three years, Dotty has been by his side all throughout his married life along with his dear daughter and son. As their journey continued, the addition of four grandchildren, then seven great grandchildren and now of late, two great, great grandchildren. In Ollies life,to be surrounded by family was to have it all.

Sadly in addition to his parents Ollie was predeceased by Herman, Louis, Virginia and Gilda Galante.

He is lovingly survived by his wife, Dorothy (McManus) Galante, his children Brenda Hembrow and her husband Robert of York, ME and Robert Galante and his wife Jane of Woburn, his siblings Albert Galante of Woburn, Elvira Roberts of Florida, Donald Galante of Woburn, John Galante of Brewster, his sister-in-laws and brother-in-laws Elizabeth Galante of Peabody, Murial Galante of FL, Edward McManus and his late wife Barbara and William McManus and wife Jaquie all of Woburn; his grandchildren Kenneth Beers, Kerrie Walker, Jennifer Galante and Jessica Mello as well as 7 great-grandchildren Angelina and Shaun Beers, Cassidy and Jordynne Walker, Kamryn, Kendall, and Lylla Mello and 2 great-great grandchildren Cianna and Eli. Also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

Ollie's funeral and viewing were held Monday. Remembrances may be made in Ollie's memory to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123.