Our dear ole Dad, Donald Charles Galvin, passed away at the age of 93 on September 23, 2026, heading off to heaven to be with the Lord.
Don was born November 7, 1932, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He proudly attended Purcell High School and later Saint Gregory and Mount Saint Mary Seminaries for philosophical and theological studies. He served in the U.S. Army with USAREUR from 1955–1957, working in transportation and logistics in Bamberg, Germany.
Dad married Mimi (Mary Edythe Niemand) on June 6, 1959. They began their life together in Cincinnati and Springdale before putting down roots in Reading and eventually settling in Evendale, Ohio. Mom and Dad raised five children in the Catholic faith where they were members of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish for over 40 years.
Surviving Don are his wife, Mary (“Mimi”), and their children and spouses: Timothy and Laura Galvin, Mary Elizabeth (Lisa) and Michael Hagarty, Susan and Michael Kaindl, Andrew and Christine Galvin, and Michael and Elizabeth Galvin.
Don’s life was centered on his Catholic faith. He served continuously in his parish, most notably as a lector of particular authority and member of the Knights of Columbus. He was ever encouraging of his children in matters of faith, both through counsel and by example. His command of the teachings of the Catholic faith was formidable, and he and Mimi participated actively in transitioning the liturgy at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart after the Second Vatican Council.
Dad was also active in his community, coaching soccer and baseball and participating in civic endeavors, including his work with the Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Don enjoyed woodworking, staining and painting, occasionally sacrificing portions of fingers and toes to the lawn equipment, and the simple pleasure of reading the editorial and sports pages of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Don also proudly leaves behind a gazillion cherished grandchildren and an ever-growing number of great-grandchildren: John and Will Galvin (Tim and Laura); Katie, Julie, and Hannah Hagarty (Lisa and Michael); Emily Zamora (Austin), Patrick Kaindl (Kelcey), Lauren Davis (Sam), and Jake Kaindl (Anna) (Sue and Michael); Zach Galvin (Jade), Ben Galvin (Carlee), Sam Galvin (Anna), Andrew Galvin, and Catherine Galvin (Andy and Christine); and Maggie, Rosie, and Lucy Galvin (Michael and Liz).
His great-grandchildren are Skylar and Jocelyn (Katie); Molly (Patrick and Kelcey); Jeremy (Zach and Jade); Janie and Martin (Ben and Carlee); and Gabe and Finn (Sam and Anna).
Don was preceded in death by his infant daughter, Amy Louise; his infant grandsons Raphael Tobias and Gabriel, his parents, Michael and Hannah; and his seven brothers and sisters: John, Cornelius, William, Anna, Reverend Paul, Loreto, and Mary Helen.
Prayers for Don’s fellow residents at Montage of Mason are appreciated. For those so inclined, contributions may be made in Don’s memory to the Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, supporting one of the causes about which Don cared deeply.
Public visitation will take place Monday, October 5, 2026, at 9:00am, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00am, at St. Michael Catholic Church, 11144 Spinner Ave., Sharonville, Ohio 45241.
Please join us Sunday October 4th, for a Celebration of Life honoring Don. Family and friends of Don and Mimi are invited to gather at 3 p.m. Friends of their children are warmly invited to join us beginning at 5 p.m.
Dingle House;
9102 W Chester Towne Centre Dr, West Chester, OH 45069
Don was the Grandson of Elizabeth (nee Curran) (1852-1934) and Captain Michael Galvin (1853-1896), whose ship, the Carmel, foundered in the near the Great Burbo Bank in Liverpool Bay of the Irish Sea (near Liverpool, England) in October 1896.
Very shortly after his father’s shipwreck, Captain Michael’s son John (1878-1896) also met his fate at sea, being lost overboard in an accident in the Mary River near Maryborough, Australia in November 1896. His son William (1874-1914) emigrated on the SS Majestic in August 1905 to the United States and settled in Yonkers, NY with Margaret (nee Hoar) – subsequently passing following a work-related injury in 1914.
Don’s father, Michael Galvin (1882-1977), emigrated to the United States aboard the SS Cymric in May, 1905. He emigrated through Boston and spent time in Yonkers prior to settling in Cincinnati, Ohio where he married Hannah Archdeacon in 1909. Hannah’s father Cornelius Archdeaon was born in Boherbue Parish, County Cork, Ireland and her mother Annie Dugan in Letter (Leitir), Kilcar parish. County Dunegal. Hannah and Michael raised their 8 children (John, Cornelius, William, Anna, Rev. Paul, Loreto, Mary Helen and Don) at 3009 Cleinview Avenue and were parishioners of the nearby church St Francis DeSales. Hannah passed at age 82 after battling cancer (1886-1968) and Michael at the age of 95. The family home, and final residence of Michael J Galvin, was 1193 Cryer Avenue in the Mt Lookout area.
Following the departure of the sons (William, John and Michael) of Captain Michael Galvin their mother Elizabeth (Eliza) and sister Julianne Crotty (1885-1920) remained in Ireland. Eliza and Julianne lived together in Dungarvan, at times with Julianne’s husband Maurice Crotty. It is believed Eliza lived alone after the death of Julianne until her passing at the age of 82 and that Eliza sold Kerosene from her home as a means of income. John “Noel” Halley (1923-?) ran errands for Eliza as a young boy. Later in his life, Noel became the 2nd husband of Catherine Dwyer of the Curran family tree. Catherine was previously married to Edward O’Brien (1914-1951). The son of Catherine and Edward is Denis O’Brien who still lives in Dungarvan as of 2026. Through Noel’s connection to Eliza a tradition grew with Noel tending weekly to the grave of Eliza Galvin and the memorial to her husband Captain Michael. Noel was greatly dedicated to honoring Eliza and curious of the whereabouts of her family. Denis, through his connection to the Curran family tree, carries on the tradition of honoring the family grave to this day. The Galvin family in the US became aware of the family headstone in Dungarvan and of Denis through the travels of Don’s brother William Galvin and his children. The headstone was temporarily removed and refurbished, with some consternation on the part of its caretaker Denis, pursuant to an unintentionally clandestine visit by Don and Mimi Galvin in 1999. The fate of the three sons was added at this time.
Don is the youngest son of the youngest son. With his passing, a generation goes with him. They are our mothers and fathers, aunts and uncles, grandmothers and grandfathers - and are missed by us all.
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