“We make a life by what we give”

Michael’s family is deeply saddened to announce his passing on the morning of May 1st at St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto after a period of illness. He is lovingly remembered by his wife of nearly 56 years, Zina (née D’Onofrio), by their children Gina (Trevor Balla), Adrienne (Kevin Howey), and Elizabeth (Kevin McGeough), by Rosie, Angie, and Lucy, to whom he was devoted “Grandpa Mikey,” and by his brother, Dr. Hugh Robert Galway (Anne). He is predeceased by darling granddaughter Eve.

Born to Dorothy (née Mahaffy) and Dr. Charles “Bud” Galway, Mike and his brothers Pat and Bob spent an adventure-filled childhood in the remote fly-in community of Mackenzie Island in Red Lake, Ontario. This instilled a lifelong love of the outdoors, boating, and the Canadian north (something he passed down to his children and grandchildren). After completing high school in Orillia, he attended Victoria College at the University of Toronto, graduating first with a BA, then an LLB, followed by an MA in International Affairs from Carleton. It was during law school that he met and fell in love with Zina at Homecoming Weekend, later proposing one moonlit night in the Music Room at Hart House (which he always said was the best decision of his life). He put himself through university by working summers in mining prospecting (including as a diamond drill operator) in the Arctic and northern regions of Quebec and Ontario. His remarkable career reflected his eclectic skills and interests and included work with the Department of External Affairs, with the European Coal and Steel Community in Luxembourg, and as Executive Director of the Canadian Institute of Public Real Estate Companies. His corporate experience as a lawyer with Canadian multi-national companies made him well-known to many in the mining and real estate industries, and prior to retirement he spent a rewarding period as a lawyer dedicated to helping refugee claimants from around the world. Always one to take a keen interest in current affairs, he authored many articles over the years on topics ranging from Arctic sovereignty to Japanese economics.

By the friends and family who knew him best, Mike will be remembered as an energetic and loving man of unparalleled generosity and integrity who was quick to find the humour in things and wise enough to recognize the value of a good pun. A man of many talents, he was as likely to be discovered chopping wood or working on a carpentry project as he was to be found reading a book of history or biography. His great love of travel took him and his family on many remarkable adventures around the globe, but his favourite place in the world was his cottage, where one of his greatest delights was taking friends and family out on the lake in his beloved boat. Above all, he was a devoted family man who took immense pride in all his girls; Dad, we have been so lucky to have you as our Captain.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (https://www.jdrf.ca/). There is a "Donations" link in the menu bar at the top right of this page and you can click on it to reach the JDRF.

A celebration of life will be held later this summer. Details will be posted here in early June 2022. Please check back here again in June and please also sign our Guestbook.

Please also make sure to click on the "Photos" link in the menu bar at the top. You can select the Photo Gallery or Slideshow to see some nice memories.