BETTY GALELLA

GALELLA--Betty Lou.

Photojournalist, editor, wife and business partner of famed celebrity photographer, Ron Galella, Betty Lou Galella (nee Burke) passed away peacefully, Monday afternoon, January 9, 2017 at her home in Montville, NJ. Born in Somerset, KY, Mrs. Galella was raised in Arlington, VA, and lived in Yonkers, NY before moving to Montville in 1992. She earned her Bachelor's Degree from Eastern Kentucky University in 1972. Mrs. Galella had served as Vice President of "Today is Sunday" Magazine. Subsequently, she was Vice President and Co-Owner of Ron Galella, Ltd. An integral part of establishing the Ron Galella photo agency, Betty was a vibrant, intelligent woman, a passionate defender of the press and supporter of the arts, as well as a loving wife and friend to all who knew her. She will be sorely missed. Of his wife, Ron Galella writes, "When Betty first purchased my photos for publication and granted me assignment credentials over the phone, I fell in love with her warm, soft, loving voice. I met her in person for the first time, two years later, on December 10, 1978, at the Kennedy Center for the premiere of 'Superman'. With one look at that beautiful girl, I said, 'I'm going to marry you.' And five months later, we were. Once married, we became a team." Preceded in death by her parents, Allan Menifee Burke and Lucille Burke (nee Eaves); she is survived by her loving husband of 37 years, Ronald E. Galella; a brother, Russell Burke; a nephew, Joseph Bryce Burke; and niece, Laura Megan Burke.