John Carlos Galvin

1940 - 2022

Carlos died on November 9,2022. His parents were John Charles Galvin of Buffalo, NY and Virginia Carlota Encinas of Tucson, AZ. He was born in San Diego on November 23, 1940 at Mercy Hospital. An alumnus of Grant School kindergarten, he graduated from St. Vincent's School in Mission Hills in 1954; from St. Augustine High School in 1958 and received a B.A. in History from the University of San Francisco in 1962. Other studies included an M.Ed. from the University of San Diego and a Diploma from the Universidad de Salamanca in Spain in Spanish Culture and Language. Following active Army duty with the 4th Infantry Division at Ft. Lewis, WN, he worked for the investment firm of J. Barth & Company in San Francisco eventually returning to USF to obtain a teaching credential. After teaching for six years in the San Francisco Unified School District he returned to San Diego teaching 28 years at Montgomery High School. He retired in 2002 having completed 34 years in the California System.

He was married to the late Frances Adamski of Washington, D.C. for 37 years, Fran passing away in 2014. During their married years, they travelled extensively on cruises, trips to Europe, Canada, Mexico, the Middle East and within the United States. In the U.S. they enjoyed visiting the bookstores of many colleges and universities collecting memorabilia, especially coffee cups. Among their visits were to the major universities that formed a quadrant of the country, namely, the universities of Hawaii, Alaska, Maine and Miami. Fran selected the last cup in 2013 at Miami that completed the quadrant dying shortly thereafter the next year. Carlos exercised regularly at MCRD and then would travel to Morley Field to play senior doubles tennis and, forever the gentleman, always offered to play the Add Court.

Recipients of the John C. Galvin Trust include the Universitiy of San Francisco, the University of Rhode Island, the University of San Diego, St. Augustine High School, the Fisher House, St. Vincent de Paul Parish and other worthy or less than worthy entities.

Memberships over the years the included the Knights of Columbus, the English Speaking Union, the USF Alumni Association, the Military Officers Association, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, the Casa de Espana, the University Club of San Diego and the Balboa Tennis Club. He loved to play old show tunes on the piano, read histories, attend to his Chinese rugs, paintings and varied useless collections. A mass of Christian Burial will be held at Mission de Alcala on December 20, 2022 at 9:00 am. He will be laid to rest with his wife at Miramar National Cemetery.