Stephen Galpin

Stephen K. Galpin, 93, of Southport, CT died April 3, 2015 of cancer at home with family at his side. Father of four, grandfather of ten and great-grandfather of six, he was a sailor, paratrooper, newspaper reporter, OSS intelligence agent, humorist, local politico, business executive and renowned dog lover. Born February 2, 1922 in New York City, he was the son of Perrin C. and Stephanie E. Galpin and grew up in Pelham Manor, NY. He graduated from The Harvey School, The Hotchkiss School and Yale University, Class of 1943. In World War II, he served in the Galapagos Islands in an anti-aircraft battery and in Southeast Asia as an intelligence agent with the U.S. Office of Strategic Services. He was honorably discharged from the Army as a first lieutenant. He joined the Hartford Courant as a reporter, covering beats ranging from obituaries, fire and police to the Connecticut State Capitol. He later went to The Wall Street Journal, first in NYC writing the Page 1 Worldwide column and, then, in Washington, DC, covering labor, Congress and, finally, the White House. In 1950, he married Ruth Bliss Schwab. She was his beloved wife for 58 years, predeceasing him in 2008. They moved to Rye, NY in 1955 when he joined General Electric Corp. at its NYC headquarters, first as a speech writer, then manager of public affairs. He was with GE for 26 years, retiring in 1981. While in Rye, he indulged his long interest in sailing and local government, winning election to the City Council and appointment as deputy mayor. He was also chairman and president of the Rye United Fund, a member of the city’s Planning and Charter Revision commissions and a trustee of the American Yacht Club. When GE headquarters moved to Fairfield, CT, Galpin moved with his family to nearby Southport, CT and served as Fairfield Town treasurer and a member of several town commissions: Charter Revision, Tax Review, Ethics, and Harbor Management. He was commodore of the Pequot Yacht Club, where he kept two 34-foot sailboats successively and, most recently, a 36-foot Hinckley-Newman lobster yacht. He was a regular contributor to the Pequot Pilot newsletter. Galpin led creation of Southport Harbor’s annual Blessing of the Fleet, a multidenominational event that caps a parade through the village. As a tribute to him for establishing this event, the State of Connecticut declared June 16, 2007 as Southport Blessing of the Fleet Day. He was Grand Marshal of the 2012 Southport Annual Street Parade. Galpin is survived by his four children Stephen K. Galpin, Jr. of Bernardsville, NJ, Mary G. Barnes of Guilford, CT, Priscilla G. Twombly of Easton, CT and Susan G. Knowlton of Old Tappan, NJ, as well as grandchildren, great-grandchildren and his dog Rufus. He is also survived by a sister Lucy G. Moorhead of Westwood, MA. His other sister, Anne Perrin Judson, died in 1990. A memorial service will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church, Southport at 11 am on Monday, April 27. Contributions in his memory may be made to The Hotchkiss School, Lakeville, CT, or to Mystic Seaport, Mystic, CT.