Roy Croke Galewski, 97, entered into rest on March 10, 2023 at Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital with his family by his side.
Roy was born on November 18, 1925 in New York City to Margaret Scully & Jerome Galewski. He grew up in New York City and Long Island with his mother and stepfather, Edward Thomas Croke, before moving to Newburgh.
He worked at the Eureka shipyard with his father Edward and, as soon as he was of age, Roy joined the U.S. Navy to serve during WWII. He was assigned to a Landing Craft Infantry in the Pacific theater, and was on the craft during many major landings in the Battle of the Pacific. After the war, Roy was involved with nuclear testing at Bikini Atoll.
Upon returning to Newburgh, Roy worked numerous jobs, including working for RCA installing television antennas during the infancy of broadcast television. He worked construction on the making of the New York State Thruway and the original runway at Stewart Airfield before settling on a career as a member of the Teamsters Local 445. He was also a member of the Maybrook Post #2064 V.F.W. During this time, Roy met the love of his life, Harriet Turner. They married on June 23, 1951, and were married for 48 years until her passing in 1999.
Always willing to help, Roy could fix or build almost anything. He loved to tinker in his garage and work bench. You never knew what he would come up with, from lamps to birdhouses to swings & seesaws for his grandchildren to play on. “Why buy something new when you can fix what you have,” was his motto.
Roy loved his family more than anything else and is survived by his son, Roy R. Galewski and companion Constance of Rock Tavern, NY; his sister Doris J. Presutti and husband Donald of Milton, NH; his grandchildren, who knew him as “Pop-Pop”: Heather Grohl and husband Peter of New Windsor, NY; Roy R. Galewski III and wife MaryBeth of Victor, NY; Mark E. Galewski of Chicago, IL; Meghan J. Galewski and partner Brittani of Brooklyn, NY; his great grandchildren: Jared and Paul Grohl, and Maggie, Emily and Abigail Galewski; and many nieces and nephews.
He is predeceased by his wife Harriet, his mother Margaret Croke, stepfather Edward Thomas Croke, brother Bernard Galewski, brother Edward J. Croke, and great granddaughter Rebekah Grohl.
The family would like to thank those who helped care for Roy, particularly Lisa, Angi, Tarista, Tara and Maria.
Visitation will take place on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 from 4 - 7 p.m, at White, Venuto and Morrill Funeral and Cremation Service, Newburgh.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 16, at The Parish of Holy Name of Mary-Assumption, 89 Union Street, Montgomery. Private cremation will follow at Cedar Hill Crematory, Newburgh, NY.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Roy’s name can be made to the Hudson Valley SPCA, 940 Little Britain Road, New Windsor, NY 12553.