Obituary of Mark R Galliher

Mark Robert Galliher

December 4, 1956 – July 27, 2018Mark Robert Galliher of Indianapolis, Indiana, passed away on Friday, July 27, after a long battlewith Mantle Cell Lymphoma. He was 61. Born in Muncie, Indiana, on December 4, 1956, he is the son of the late Robert Boyce Galliher and the late Judith Clark West. He is survived by his wife Jane (Skolasinski) Ross; 3 sons: Jonathan (Judy) Galliher – Chicago, Robert Galliher – Hawaii, and David (Rebekah) Galliher – Indianapolis; daughter Laura Galliher –Indianapolis; stepson Carl Ross – Chicago; grandson Alban (born December 15, 2017, to Jon and Judy); 2 sisters: Leslie (William) Gawne – Maryland and Carrie Galliher – Muncie; 2 nephews: Mark (Stefanie) Warstler and Glen Warstler; great niece Kahlan Warstler; 4 great nephews: Lucas, Patrick, Christopher and Steven Warstler. After graduating from Muncie High School, Mark followed in the footsteps of generations of Galliher men by attending Wabash College. There he received a Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude, majoring in Latin, in 1979. He received a Juris Doctorate degree in 1982 from IU School of Law, and was admitted to the IN & US District Court, Southern and Northern Districts of Indiana in 1983. In 1991, he was admitted to practice law in the U.S. Supreme Court. He began his legal career as a staff attorney for Judge James Young of the IN Court of Appeals, then with Nicholas Sufana, U.S. Bankruptcy Court. He practiced law with various firms until 2012 when he joined his dear friend Brian Hewitt of Hewitt Law and Mediation and worked closely with his most trusted and highly esteemed colleague Laurie Bracken.

Mark was a man of high ideals. He devoted his life to God, his family and the many he considered friends. On October 18, 2003, he married his best friend Jane, with whom he shared life’s joys, sorrows, adventures and peace. He was a loving father who will be remembered by his children for his interest in anything important to them, no matter how silly. From history and philosophy to Japanese Anime, if it mattered to his kids, it mattered to him. Other treasured memories include long-winding conversations that rarely stayed on one topic, and proofreading school essays. He liked to entertain his children with tales of camping and ensuing mishaps. And he was blessed to meet and spend as much time as possible with his grandson.

A very religious man, he was devoted to his church, Saints Constantine and Elena Romanian Orthodox. His goal in life was to serve the Lord, pray with intensity, not to judge people and to serve them to the best of his ability. His legacy will be enjoyed through an annual trip to the Holy Cross Orthodox Monastery in West Virginia, a journey he organized and looked forward to each year. He was a minimalist with no need for material possessions. In addition to cherished time with his wife, children and parish, he was an avid reader, enjoyed music, cruises and diving. He was intelligent, witty and quick with a joke. He enjoyed making people laugh and would do anything for friends and neighbors.

Condolences and donations may be sent payable to Jane Galliher, c/o Saints Constantine &Elena Romanian Orthodox Church, 3237 W. 16th St., Indianapolis, IN 46222, for distribution per Mark’s wishes.