Galen Dillman

1929 - 2023

Galen Dillman
08/18/1929 - 07/13/2023
Galen Harold Dillman, 93, died peacefully in his home in San Francisco, surrounded by family.
If there was one word to describe Galen it would be: gentleman.
He was born August 18, 1929, in Oakland, CA, to Galen Hunter Dillman and Bertha Dillman (nee Hind).
Galen grew up in Berkeley with his dad, mom and sister. Sadly, his dad died when he was just twelve. Galen took on work to support his family as well as going to school. He graduated from Berkeley High School in 1947.
In 1951, he served as a Sergeant in the Air Force during the Korean War. He was stationed in Alaska and received a Good Conduct Medal, as well as a National Defense Service Medal.
After the war, Galen found work as a teller at Bank of America in Berkeley. Through his hard work and leadership skills he worked his way up to Vice President. He was highly respected and made many friends during his time there.
A few words about Galen's passions.
In his late 20s, his buddies, Angelo and Dick invited him to go backpacking to Lake of the Woods in Desolation Wilderness. Galen's nick name soon became "Scout Master" as he organized many wonderful backpacking trips with his friends and family.
Another passion was jazz music. Any live show he could catch, he would!
His greatest joy was his family.
Galen was married to the love of his life, Marilyn Dillman (nee Mulcahy) for 59 years.
They shared countless happy memories in Clayton where they raised their three children: Galen Hunter Dillman, Valerie Dillman, and Julie Brim (nee Dillman). They created a life they loved: hosting holiday gatherings, backyard barbeques, exploring nature and later travelling the world.
In retirement, Galen and Marilyn moved to San Francisco. He became a volunteer docent at the Presidio and created a tour of the National Cemetery showcasing the stories of Medal of Honor recipients. Galen's passion for history and storytelling skills left visitors with a truly unique understanding of American history.
Galen was blessed with a loving son-in-law, Vince Brim, as well as two wonderful grandchildren, Ronan Galen Brim, and Makenna Lee Brim. His heart lit up when he was with his family and a big part of his retirement was spent taking care of and having fun with his grandkids.
A private ceremony took place on Galen's birthday, August 18th, 2023. Galen's ashes were spread under the majestic Golden Gate Bridge, a symbol of his connection to the beautiful city he called home, surrounded by his family.
Galen Harold Dillman will be remembered as a gentleman, a beloved family man, the ultimate Scout Master, and a servant to his country. His legacy of grace, intelligence, compassion, kindness, and humor will continue to inspire all those who were fortunate enough to have known him.