Bridgewater Veteran Volunteer Firefighter Dies Hours After Call

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — The Bridgewater Fire Rescue community is mourning the unexpected loss of one of its own veteran volunteer firefighters who just responded to a call the night before.

Michael G. "Jerry" Galay, 71, of Bridgewater died unexpectedly in his sleep at home on Thursday Nov. 22, according to the US Fire Administration.

Galay, a 12-year member of Bridgewater’s Green Knoll Volunteer Fire Department, responded to a call of smoke and a fire alarm activation on Nov. 21, then helped Station 1 with the arrival of its new engine company before going home. His wife found, Galay, unresponsive the next morning at 6:45 a.m., according U.S. Fire Administration.

CPR was administered and he was transported to a nearby hospital where he died a short time later, according to U.S. Fire Administration.

The nature and cause of fatal injury are still to be reported.

"Michael’s warm, gracious, giving style was widely appreciated by all who knew him. Earth lost another angel this day," his Bruce C. VanArsdale Funeral Home obituary states.

Galay had dedicated 30 years to the fire service. He was a former Volunteer Fire Chief of Olyphant, PA before joining the Bridgewater’s Green Knoll Volunteer Fire Department, where he had been trustee, chief driver, and designer of GK’s new apparatus.

He was also a member of the Kingsbury #466 Masonic Lodge in Olyphant and a devoted fan of NASCAR and Penn State football.

Galay graduated from Olyphant (PA) High School in 1965 and worked for 16 years with Weston, Parodi, and PennDOT, before attending Fordham University in New York City.

He designed and managed data centers in Boston, Maryland, Manhattan and Newark during his 15 years with Thomson Financial and its predecessor Securities Data Corp.

Galay and team rebuilt in Newark the Manhattan data center within one week after its destruction on 9/11. He later designed IT disaster-planning strategy for CIT until retirement, according to his obituary.

Preceded in death by his parents, Michael and Mary Gazella Galaydick, he is survived by his wife of 37 years, Joan Sembrat, and two brothers-in-law, Robert Sembrat, Olyphant, and George Sembrat, Johnson City, along with many cousins and life-long friends.

Funeral mass was held at Ss Cyril and Methodius Ukrainian Catholic Church, 135 N River St, Olyphant, PA.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Eureka Fire Co #4, 717 E Grant St, Olyphant, PA or the Green Knoll Fire Company #1, PO Box 6004, Bridgewater, NJ 08807.

To send condolences, visit www.brucecvanarsdalefuneralhome.com.

(Images via Country Hills Volunteer Fire Company)

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