RONALD GALELLA

GALELLA--Ronald E. "Although my photos are still, they all have movement"- Ron Galella. Famed celebrity photographer Ron Galella. Our beloved mentor and friend died peacefully in his sleep Saturday morning in his home in New Jersey. He was 91. Dubbed "Paparazzo extraordinaire" by Newsweek, during his nearly six-decade career Ron amassed the world's largest single-source photographic archive dedicated to popular culture. Born to Vincenzo and Michelina Galella in the Bronx, Ron attended PS. 78 grammar school and Evander Childs High School in the Bronx. He served in the Air Force for four years and graduated on a GI-Bill from the ArtCenter College of Design in California with a Bachelor's degree in photojournalism. Ron published twenty-two books, in 2010 was the subject of Smash His Camera, directed by Oscar-winner Leon Gast. His much sought after signed, fine-art prints are collected in museums and private collections worldwide. Until his very last hours he was doing what he loved the most in life, sharing his work. Ron is survived by his brother Vincent and 11 nieces and nephews, Paulette, Linda, Barbara, John, Louis, Richie, Stephen, Anthony, Nicholas, Peter, and Gloria, and 22 great-nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his beloved wife Betty Lou Burke, Ron's brothers Louis and Nicholas, and sister Camille. Visitation is Tuesday and Wednesday, May 3 and 4 (3:00-7:00pm) at Frank E. Campbell's Funeral Chapel and Funeral Service on Thursday at 10:00am at St. Patrick's Cathedral.