Mary Jane "MJ" Galanter
February 18, 1945 - September 2, 2025

Mary Jane "MJ" Galanter of Squirrel Hill, Pennsylvania, passed away on September 2, 2025 at the age of 80. Beloved wife of Robert A. Galanter. Devoted mother of Gregory Galanter (Tammy Miller) and Beth (William) Connolly. Adoring grandmother "GG" to Coleman and Beatrice Connolly. Sister of Barbara (David) Shanks, Debe (Albert) Lomicka, and the late John R. McClung jr. She is also survived by nieces, nephews, and extended family.

MJ was born in Rhode Island in 1945 to Virginia (Smith) and John Raymond "Mac" McClung. Mac was a project manager for Dravo building dams around the country and the family moved frequently. As a child she lived in Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Kentucky, and West Virginia.

After graduating from the University of West Virginia in 1967 she moved to Pittsburgh where she became the first female junior executive at Gimbels Department Store and with two others, opened the Gimbels Monroeville store. Soon after, she became a Buyer of coats and tennis wear.

MJ was a talented artist, and for many years studied painting in a class at the JCC with many talented friends under the late Lila Hersch. As a validation of her talent, she was admitted to the Pittsburgh Society of Artists.

She loved to ski, and in earlier years skied with Bobby and the kids at Laurel Valley every winter weekend, and traveled around the country to resorts in the east and west.

She started to play golf on her honeymoon and never looked back. She could often be found on the course with her friends or traveling around the country to play with Bobby.

Her biggest joys in life were her children and grandchildren. She loved traveling to Michigan to watch Coleman's hockey games with two-year-old Beatrice cheering and banging on the glass.

She was loved and respected by her friends and adored by her family and she will be missed every day.

Services at Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc., 5509 Centre Avenue, Shadyside, on Monday, September 8, 2025 at 11 AM. Visitation 1 hour prior to services (10 AM to 11 AM). Interment Homewood Cemetery.

Condolences

Dear Bob, my deepest sympathy on the passing of MJ. May her memory be a Blessing!