Obituary of Cynthia Ann Galligani

Cynthia Ann Wallace Galligani Cynthia (Cindy) Ann Wallace Galligani, age 78, of Manhawkin, NJ, died on Saturday, February 23, 2013, after a five year struggle with melanoma (skin cancer). Her three children were with her at the time. Cindy was born the daughter of Earl and Esther Wallace on January 22, 1935, in Riverdale, NJ. She grew up on her father’s chicken and Black Angus cattle farm on Split Rock Road in Rockaway Twp., NJ. Her grade school years were spent at the tiny Hibernia School, in which her class shared a classroom with one or two other grades. At Boonton High School, Cindy was a straight-A student, which eventually won her a four year State University Scholarship to Douglas College. As she was among the top students to win this award, Cindy also received the honorary title of Governor’s Scholarship. At Douglas College, Cindy first majored in mathematics and then changed to English. She maintained her high academic status throughout her four years, graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1957. Cindy then started her high school English teaching career at Morris Hills High School. While selling hot dogs at a high school football game one Saturday, Cindy met her husband, Anthony (Andy) Galligani, a vice principal at Morris Knolls. The two married less than a year later, in 1958. They moved to Old Farmers Road in Long Valley, NJ, and Cindy took a hiatus from teaching to have their three children. In 1966, the couple designed and helped build a beautiful redwood home on nine acres of wooded property on top of Schooley’s Mountain, also in Long Valley. Cindy returned to English teaching in 1968, and worked in Mt Olive and West Morris Central High Schools. Her husband Andy was her supervisor. In 1975, she took a sabbatical to achieve her Masters Degree at Rutgers University. She eventually became Head of the English Department at West Morris, which was formerly her husband’s position, and then she retired in 1994. In 1996, Cindy and her husband moved to a bay front home on Cedar Bonnet Island in Manahawkin, NJ. There she was a member of the local garden club and booster club. Cindy enjoyed her cooking for her family and friends, knitting, gardening, reading, and keeping up with politics. The couple made many trips around the US and Europe through the Elderhostel program. Cindy was predeceased in 2007 by her husband, Andy. She is survived by her sister, Virginia Hof, of Los Angeles, CA. Also living are her three children: Lisa Zambito and her husband Tom of High Bridge, NJ; Laura-Connelly Healy and her husband Jim Healy of Denville, NJ; and Tony Galligani and his girlfriend Emily Jipson, of Manhattan, NY. Cindy also has three grandchildren: Amanda and Brenda Connelly of Denville, and Mark Zambito of High Bridge, and many nieces and nephews. Private memorial services will be held. Donations in Cindy’s memory may be made to the Melanoma Foundation or Compassionate Care Hospice.