Thomas "Tomas" Bird Galaty

Tomas Bird Galaty, age 75, died of heart failure after a long illness on Oct. 12, 2024. Tomas is survived by a large loving family: his son Dylan (Tiffany), grandchildren Sya and Jadon, brothers and sisters David (Debra), John (Barbara, deceased), Betsy Sagan (John), Mary McConnell (Jerry, deceased), nieces and nephews Elise, Davey, Jamie, Meg, Johnny, Annie, Charlie, Kassel, and Laurel, numerous great-nieces and great-nephews, cousins, and in-laws, and three former wives, Laurie Lampert, Catherine Rassie, and Kristi Rolbiecki. He was preceded in death by his parents Gordon and Elizabeth (Ibby), his niece Marguerite (Mara), and many of his close friends.

Tomas was born on February 17, 1949, in Omaha, Nebraska. During the Korean War the family moved to Camp Pendleton and Oceanside, CA. In 1952 they moved to LaGrange, IL where Tomas attended Cossitt Avenue Grade School and Lyons Township High School before moving in 1966 to Tucson, AZ where he finished high school at Rincon High. Tomas attended the University of Arizona and studied jewelry-making under Frank Patania. In 1969 he married Laurie Lampert and their treasured son Dylan was born in 1969. The family moved to the San Francisco Bay area where Tomas and Laurie worked with troubled teens. Eventually Tomas moved to Green Bay, WI where he received his BA in fine arts. He received a fellowship to study at the Chicago Art Institute where he earned his MfA in fine arts. He joined the Art Institute Admissions staff and continued his work as an artist in sculpture, drawing, painting, and jewelry. He moved back to Green Bay to serve as director to the Lawton Art Gallery of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay where he arranged several important exhibits.

Tomas was plagued by a form of muscular dystrophy all his life, and complications from lingering infections forced him to retire early. He continued living in Green Bay exploring artistic and intellectual avenues. His illnesses gradually forced him into a wheelchair, and he spent the end of life mostly house-bound.

Tomas was a larger than life figure. He loved people and made friends easily. He was quick to laugh and loved any occasion to relax with other people. He was a talented artist, an amazing cook, intellectually curious, a beloved and loving family member.

Despite being beset by chronic, crippling illness from childhood, and spending the last years of his life homebound, he maintained an optimistic spirit, lived a rich life of the mind and built strong, mentoring relationships with his team of caretakers.

A visual person with an incredible eye for color, Tom had a strong sense of style in both fashion and in the impeccably decorated home environments he created for himself. He had an engaging smile, infectious laugh and a love, back in the day, of dancing the night away (even when he was on crutches).

He was especially proud of his son Dylan, his daughter-in-law Tiffany, and Sya and Jadon, his grandchildren, and he shared this pride and love with most of the people who passed through his life. He is sorely missed by all who knew him well.

Tomas's family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to the team of caretakers throughout the years for their incredible care, friendship and compassion.

RIP Tomas. You will be loved and missed always.