Marie H Galvin

Marie Helen Galvin

9/26/1937-4/26/2025

Marie Helen Galvin of Somerville, and Brighton, Mass. died on Saturday, April 26, 2025. She passed at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital after a brief illness, surrounded by her friends and chosen family.

Born in Roslindale, Mass. on September 26, 1937, Marie was a born leader and lifelong boss, whether as a school principal, Head Start administrator, or in her last position, as cofounder and editor of The Resident, the newsletter for her assisted living community, Providence House. A fierce advocate for racial equality and lifelong learning, Marie lived her life with a passion for music, books, and most of all, community.

As a teacher, Marie befriended and partnered young teachers of color in an era when they were not even allowed to eat in the same establishments; as a Head Start leader, she pushed all of her staff to earn degrees or advanced degrees, and encouraged the program parents to do the same. Even at Providence House, she would ask the dining room servers and residential assistants what their goals were, what their educational plans were, and what they were reading. Early in her career, she became close friends with Elaine Ullian, a coworker at Eastern Middlesex Opportunities Council, and became godmother to Elaine’s children and great-godmother to her grandchildren, welcoming them to her home for many Christmas and Easter celebrations.

Her great love for choral singing led her to the choir at St. Paul’s in Cambridge, where she sang for many years, and befriended Timm and Mary Lou Judas, her chosen family. She attended summer singing camp, took voice lessons, and attentively followed the score when she listened to music. She was a fervent reader; in her Somerville apartments her hallways were lined with bookshelves, and even at Providence House her apartment was filled with books that she was reading or planned to read. 

Marie was predeceased by her parents, Helen and John, and her brother Jack. Her survivors include Timm and Mary Lou Judas and their children, Max and Hannah, and Elaine and Stephen Ullian, her godchildren, Adam and Jessica, and her great-godchildren, Shiloh, Levi, Caiden, and Corynn.

Burial services will be held on Saturday, June 28, at 11:30 a.m. at Mt. Benedict Cemetery in West Roxbury. A mass will be said in her honor on Sunday, June 29, at St. Paul’s Parish in Cambridge. Donations in her honor may be sent to the National Head Start Association at https://nhsa.org/dollar-per-child/.