BEACON- The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is mourning the loss of Robert Galloway on June 11 at the age of 89. He was born in Dumbarton, Scotland on July 3, 1933. On May 25, 1968, Robert married Christine Livingstone in Scotland. The two met at a bar in Queens and they were happily married for 51 years, until Christine predeceased him on July 21, 2019.
Prior to emigrating to the US, Robert served in the British Army as part of the Seaforth Highlanders, 1st Battalion serving Gibraltar. Upon completing his tour in the Army, he returned to Scotland and began his five-year apprenticeship as a painter. When he finished his apprenticeship, he began his career in painting as a ship painter.
In 1962, he made the move to come to the US and as the story goes, he began working immediately as a union painter. Career-wise, he eventually went into business with his partner, David Sullivan, creating Old Firm Contracting. The company got its name from the intense Old Firm derby between Celtic and Rangers in Scottish soccer. Robert was a Celtic fan and David a Rangers’ supporter but they were very close friends and everybody at the company got along.
Robert and Christine were very proud to have been founding members of the Beacon Soccer Club in 1978 along with Patrick Kerr. Keeping the philosophy of the club’s founders 45 years later, all coaches remain volunteers.
If there was soccer being played in Beacon, you were guaranteed to see Robert there including just two weeks before his passing. He enjoyed his years of coaching in Beacon and also at Dutchess Community College in the early 1990’s after they asked for his help in revitalizing their program. His favorite players called him Gramps and he found such joy in watching/coaching his grandsons and his great-grandchildren. Along with his passions, he was very proud of his Scottish roots and was a member of the Dutchess County Scottish Society.
Ironically, Robert passed a…
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