Lou Galliani obituary

LOU GALLIANI, 63, passed from this life on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 8th, at home with his family after a very private duel with melanoma.  Cremation has already taken place, but there will be a "celebration of his life" on Saturday, June 4th.
Born the oldest of five siblings to Jeanne Faulk and Louis Galliani II, in San Francisco, "Louski" attended St. Joseph's seminary in Mountain View, CA, which he often credited with saving his life and making him into the gentleman he was.  However in an unusual turn of events, he fell into the record business immediately following a year of college.  He was named Promotion Man of the Year that very first year (1966) for Capitol Records, but then was drafted into the Army, where he served as a medic in Germany (1967-1969).  On his return, he was welcomed back to Capitol Records, who were spinning off their new label, Apple, to promote the Beatles.  In the early 70's he joined RCA, where he met and worked with Larry Douglas and Frank Mancini (two legends in the industry), who became his mentors. He subsequently worked for ABC and Elektra/Asylum Records, and worked, traveled, and  became friends with many recording artists including Harry Nilsson, David Bowie, Freddy Mercury of Queen, Glenn Frey and the Eagles, among others. 
          It was while at Elektra that Lou met his soul-mate and one true love, Tina Robinson, who was managing country singer Eddie Rabbitt at the time, for Scotti Bros. Entertainment.  They were married (for the first time) in 1983 by a rabbi, and gave birth to their only biological child, their miracle, Carey Jeanne, in 1986.  They were remarried in the Catholic church in 1987 in Hollywood.  They also renewed their vows again with "Elvis" in Las Vegas and by the Dalai Llama's personal physician.
          After moving to San Luis Obispo (his paradise) in 1989, Lou and his brothers, Bob and Rick, formed Galliani Bros. Promotion and then took over the marketing for the trade magazine THE GAVIN REPORT, where he worked until his retirement and the dissolution of the magazine a few years ago.  Lou was very involved in the community and volunteered for a number of organizations, including fostering thirteen children, coaching AYSO soccer for seven years, working with the AIDS Support Network, and working with a brain injured child named Katherine Blackburn.  Lou was very spiritual (if not religious) and was extremely honored to be asked to perform several weddings, so he received his minister's license and married ten couples over the past few years.
          A life-long sports enthusiast and athlete, Louski was known for riding his bike everywhere, and participated in several Wild Flower rides as well as climbing both Half-Dome and Mt. Whitney in the last year. 
          He is survived by his devoted wife of 22 years, Tina; his adorable and accomplished daughter, Carey Jeanne (who just completed a year of service for the CA Department of Education), 13 foster children (the latest of whom were Tony and Jordan), his sisters and their husbands: Lin and Mike Baker, Dianne and Michael Wright, and Lisa and Michael MacMullen ; his brothers and their wives: Bob and Mara Galliani, and Rick and Melissa Galliani, his father Lou Galliani II (aka Ross Allen or Orlando Shimbato), three nieces and three nephews, and numerous god-children.  He was preceded in death by his loving mother, Jeanne Faulk Galliani.
          In lieu of flowers, Lou wanted any memorial contributions to be made in his name to Katherine as mentioned above at:  Center for Neurological Reprogramming, 114 Middle Rincon Rd., Santa Rosa, CA 95409, or to Heifer Project Int'l in Little Rock, Ark.