James J. Gallen Jr., 67, passed away Thursday, December 17, 2020, in Mechanicsburg, PA, after a valiant battle with cancer. He was the husband of Laura (Pollard) Gallen, who lovingly cared for Jim until his final day. They were married October 29, 2020. Jim was born October 11,1953 in Reading, PA, the oldest son of the late Hon. James J. Gallen and Sara C. "Snooky” (Boyle) Gallen.
Growing up in Shillington along the Wyomissing Creek, Jim enjoyed the outdoors, fishing, trapping, camping, dam-building, and inventing acrobatic feats on the popular rope swings suspended over the “crick.” He attended St. John Baptist de la Salle grade school where he both excelled scholastically, and at trying the patience of the Sisters of Mercy. Having developed a talent for billiards at a young age, he could usually be found playing hooky at the Shillington Pool Hall, thereby engendering disapproval from his parents and anger from his vanquished, much older opponents. Jim also proved to be a formidable pitcher on several mite league championship teams, hurling for the “Speedboys”. Upon transferring to the Governor Mifflin School District, Jim found his niche in the perennial powerhouse Mustang wrestling program. As a 3-year letterman, he contributed greatly to their string of team county championships, with some key upset victories in critical situations.
Upon graduation, and having been involved in many political campaigns, Jim’s interests took him to Washington D.C., where he obtained employment for the United States Senate working in the Senate document room, doing research and filling senators’ requests for bills and previous legislation. Jim furthered his education attending Howard University, and advanced to be appointed as Assistant Executive Secretary to the U.S. Senate, a position he held for several years.
Jim returned to Pennsylvania, where he worked for the Dept. of Agriculture and eventually began a career in the life, health, and annuities insurance business. He recently retired from Gallen Financial Services. He remained civically involved throughout his life, and served several terms as a West Reading Borough Councilman, where he worked hard to prioritize the concerns of taxpayers.
Jim is survived by the following immediate family members: his wife, Laura and her children Scott and Jennifer; his first wife Jane Rantz of Cumru Township and their children James John Gallen III of Foley, AL, and Meghan Gallen of Wilmington, NC; his second wife Debbora Jacobs of Exeter Township, their son Patrick Gallen and his wife Vilde Evjenth both of Copenhagen, Denmark. Jim is also survived by his first son, Christopher Bifareti of Oakton, VA.
Jim is also survived by his considerable extended family, including: his brother Francis and sister-in-law Michele of Pennside; brother Andrew and sister-in-law Barbara of Shillington; brother Philip and sister-in-law Kim of Stowe, OH; brother Matthew and brother-in-law Neal Loebel of Guardia Sanframondi, Italy; sister Margaret "Peggy" Schaffer and brother-in-law Thomas Schaffer of Milford, PA; sister Sara "Sally" Gallen of Shillington; sister Clare Gallen of Shillington; and numerous nieces, nephews, and grandnephews.
Due to current Covid-19 restrictions, services are private at the convenience of the Gallen family, but will be webcast around the world Saturday, December 26 from 10am-12noon. To view this webcast, visit www.kuhnfuneralhomes.com, click on Jim’s obituary, then scroll to the bottom of his page and click “Watch Webcast.” A true celebration of Jim’s incredible life will be held in the future when possible for the public to meet safely. The Edward. J. Kuhn Funeral Home, West Reading, is assisting with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed at www.kuhnfuneralhomes.com.