Isadore Galing, 96, writer

Isadore Galing, 96, of Hatboro, a poet and writer, died Wednesday, Dec. 18, of heart disease at his home.

Born in New York City, he lived there until moving at age 9 to Philadelphia. He graduated from South Philadelphia High.

From a very early age Mr. Galing discovered that he had a talent for writing, and wrote for the high school newspaper.

He married the former Esther Steinberg in 1938, and the couple had two sons. She died in 2006.

When World War II broke out, Mr. Galing worked for the Frankford Arsenal for four years as a tool grinder. He was later inducted into the Army and served three months before the Japanese surrendered and Mr. Galing was deployed to Germany.

On returning to the states, he joined the Willow Grove Naval Air Station and remained there for 15 years. He left the Navy and then worked for Reedman Corp. as a warranty administrator until retiring at age 69.

While in the Navy, he wrote short stories and articles for Our Navy magazine. Later, he wrote several articles for The Inquirer's magazine. He also started a book review column for the Doylestown Intelligencer called "Book Briefs."

When he was 79, Mr. Galing was named poet laureate of Hatboro, and received honorary citations from Pennsylvania's House and Senate.

He published nine books of poetry. He also wrote a column called "Rhymes and Reasons" in Hatboro Life.

In latter years, Mr. Galing learned the harmonica and played at churches and for civic groups in Hatboro.

"It was nothing for Mr. Galing to pull out his harmonica, be it in a restaurant, diner, pizza parlor, or barbershop, and begin to play for the people sitting around him," his family said in a tribute.

Surviving are sons Burt and Leonard, and three grandchildren.

Funeral services are at noon Sunday, Dec. 22, at Joseph Levine & Sons, 4737 Street Rd., Trevose. Interment is in Montefiore Cemetery.