LOWVILLE - Galen G. Kelly, 77, died early Saturday morning, August 3, 2024, at his home in Lowville under the care of his family and Lewis County Hospice. He will be terribly missed by his family and his faithful dog, Leo.

Galen was born on January 13, 1947, in Englewood, NJ, the son of the late Michael J. and Marie E. (Knapp) Kelly. He was a graduate from New York Military Academy in Cornwall. He graduated from Bloomfield College in Bloomfield, NJ, and The Backster School of Lie Detection.

Mr. Kelly was a Licensed Investigator, Exit Counselor and Deprogrammer. He was well known throughout the US and Europe as a foremost authority on subversive organizations including; cults, organized crime and terrorism. Before founding his own Investigative Consulting company, G. Kelly Associates, Mr. Kelly worked as the Vice President of the Investigative and Polygraph division of Managed Safeguard Industries.

Galen was a hero in every sense of the term. The common thread of his life was to work for the benefit of others, often by placing himself at great risk. He was a consummate professional, an acknowledged expert at his craft. As a Deprogrammer he designed and carried out scores of rescue operations for individuals ensnared by cults, extremist groups or organizations of undue influence. The great majority of these efforts were successful with the outcome being the return of individuals to their family and a re-establishment of the individual's freely chosen life pursuit.

During his career, he was the recipient of the Martin Luther King Award, presented by the Congress of Racial Equality, and was an Adjunct Professor at Rutgers University in New Jersey where he taught Criminal Justice and Hostage Negotiation. His earliest achievement in life was being awarded The Belgian Croix de Guerre for "bravery in the face of the enemy", while serving in the Republic of the Congo from 1967 to 1968.

Galen married the love of his life Elizabeth Thoma on April 20, 1974, at First Presbyterian Church Palisades Park, NJ.

Surviving is his wife, Elizabeth, his daughter and son-in-law, Michelle (Tom) Hiscott, his son and daughter-in-law, Dillon (Andrea) Kelly, and his grandchildren, Sophia, Lily, Victoria, Charlotte, Quinn, and Redmond.

He is predeceased by his daughter, Meghann Kelly.

Galen was a newly made member of First Presbyterian Church, Lowville, was an avid collector of miniature Britain soldiers and pre-Civil War military arms, a Master Mason of Mt. Vernon Lodge No. 3, F. & A.M., and past member of the Old Dutch Church in Kingston, where he served several terms as Elder.

Calling hours for family and friends will be August 23, 2024 from 5:00pm to 8:00pm at the Sundquist Funeral Home.

A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Lowville with Rev. Greg Jenkins, officiating, on August 24, 2024 at 11:00am.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, a donation be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Lowville in Galen's name.