Emily Christopher Galli
August 29, 1950 - July 28, 2015
47 year resident of Santa Cruz
On July 28th our dear friend, aunt, mother, sister, daughter, Emily passed. After 7 months of her incredibly brave battle with leukemia, she came home to spend her final days at peace. Throughout her illness she fought quietly, unrelentingly, with strength, patience, love, faith, humor, and grace. She was cared for by many friends, family, and her daughters who she loved more than anything.
Emily was born the eldest of six children on August 29, 1950 in Whittier, California to Elizabeth and Hal Stratton. She grew up and attended public school in Pasadena, Ca. She attended UC Berkeley and then UC Santa Cruz where she graduated with a degree in Organic Chemistry. She went on to earn her M.A. in Library Science from San Jose State University. She worked for over 30 years in the Santa Cruz County Library System.
Together with her first husband John Christopher, she raised her three daughters in beautiful Santa Cruz. An amazing mother, she delighted in providing a rich and creative life for her family. She instilled a commitment to knowledge, health, kindness, honesty, gratitude, and integrity in her girls.
In 2005 Emily met and went on to marry Geno Galli. They were instantly inseparable, and he lit up a light in her that was a joy to see for all that knew her. They played music, sang, wrote rifts, traveled, surfed, cooked together, goofed off, and just utterly adored each other. Geno lost a battle with cancer in 2008. The loss of her husband was heartbreaking for Emily. She slowly learned to find a new life and heal, but she never stopped loving or missing him.
Emily's life was full and rich. She treasured time and experiences, not things. She lived a life of true integrity. She was honest to the core and it's quite possible that she never told a lie in her life. She worked hard and never cut a corner. She didn't gossip or have the itch to say something bad about a person. Emily valued her health and her mind and never stopped learning and growing. She loved quiet foggy morning walks and drinking tea with her beloved Daisy Dog in her lap. She liked adding cute emojis to the end of each one of her texts, and never let any of her daughters leave the house before telling them "I love you." Her absolute love for music- playing, singing, writing, was such a part of who she was. She played the violin and ukulele and loved taking her daughters to concerts, symphonies, operas, and performances. She loved gardening, crossword puzzles, camping, reading, trips to Santa Barbara to see her family, word and number games, penguins, napping just about anywhere, traveling, and cooking with her friends and family. She loved warm days at Seabright beach, and walks with her sister Sarah in Arana Gulch. She was many things to many people, and the most important person to many. To some she was a knitting friend, a book club friend, a Ukulele Club friend, a woman who helped someone's child with a school project, or learn to read. A second mother to many, someone to play music with, to go to for advice, a mentor, a FRIEND. If you were any of these things she loved you unconditionally. She had a childlike goofy-ness and innocence, yet the mind, heart, and wisdom of an old beautiful soul. She was brilliant, loving, kind and humble. Resilient, selfless, adaptable, and brave. She was funny, gullible, nerdy, and square but never uptight. And could always keep up with her hooligan friends and daughters.
She really truly CARED. About parenting, about her career, about people, about the world. She cared about and worked for what mattered to her. From a young age she was guided by her own light. And also the light of her spirituality. She found Catholicism as an adult, yet open-heartedly pulled from many religions, ideas, and science. Even in her last days she continued to look for truth.
Her absolute love and passion was being a children's librarian, and during her 30 years in serving the community, she devoted her life to being a true advocate for youth, families, and libraries.
She had a desire to understand and connect with people who others did not understand, and was a voice for many who did not have a voice. She believed in prisoners rights to reading and education, and through the library helped to pioneer a program where she would bring books to the Santa Cruz County jails, thereby connecting prisoners to knowledge and to the outside world.
Her friend and colleague of over 30 years said that her life's work can still be seen in the county's libraries, and that her work is still making a difference. "You can't think about Santa Cruz Youth Services without thinking of her. She showed up 100%...always". Professionally and personally, she always worked for what would best unite and serve the people.
Emily was the best. She was just the best. She is so deeply missed everyday by so many. The way she lived her life and the things she accomplished impacted the world around her. The people she touched will all carry a little bit of Emily with them. To honor her we can all take the goodness that she was out into the world, allowing her spirit to gracefully and powerfully live on.
She is preceded in death by her brother, Peter Stratton, Step-Father David Merrill, Mother Elizabeth Merrill, and husband Geno Galli.
She is survived by her 3 daughters Rachel, Anna, and Sarah Christopher, her first husband, John Christopher, Her father and Step Mother Hal and Nancy Stratton, Sisters Maggie West, Sarah Balla, Jane Stratton, and Katie Zelko. Along with 5 step sisters, 2 step brothers, many nieces and nephews who she loved so much, and countless loving friends that she considered family.
We love you, sweet Emily. Thank you for everything you were and are. Be free...
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Friends Outside, a program of the Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County, in Emily's name.
Memorial will be held on Friday, September 11th at 1pm. Star of the Sea Church 515 Frederick St, Santa Cruz. Followed by a reception at Harvey West Scout House 326 Evergreen St Santa Cruz