Family’s tributes to ‘ gentleman Leo’
The funeral of a man who touched the lives of many in our community, took place today ( Wednesday).
Galileo Galli died on Tuesday last week aged 77, just seven months after his wife of 41 years, Joan, died unexpectedly in January.
Relatives say he died of a broken heart.
Tributes have been pouring in for Leo, whose various occupations brought him to the centre of Ayrshire life.
Leo, who was one of six children, was educated at St Joseph’s College in Dumfries.
And he took an early interest in Latin and French, before studying classics at Glasgow University.
But that was abandoned in favour of fortune and adventure as Leo took to the American highways with brothers Antonio and Silvio, where they sold encyclopedias door- to- door.
Despite Leo’s “gift of the gab” helping him smash company records, he did return to Ayr.
He took over the Cafe Moderne in Alloway Steet from his mother Elvira who moved to the town from her native Tuscany.
And it was at the cafe that Leo would meet his future wife Joan.
The couple went on to have three daughters – Maria, 48; Teresa, 45 and Angela, 43 – and later seven grandchildren who now age between 18 and nine- years- old.
And the cafe prospered too, serving as the bustling hub for youngsters embracing a trendy new culture of foaming cappuchinos until it closed in 1971.
Newsagent RS McColl now occupies the site.
Leo then took over the Blue Grotto Hotel from 1974 to 1984 on the prime seafront position where the Horizon Hotel now stands.
But it was aged 41 that Leo changed direction and followed his early passion for languages into teaching.
He was able to pass on his love of language to pupils at Doon Academy, where he taught until retirement.
In his personal life, Leo was a devout Catholic, and much loved father and grandfather.
His daughter Teresa said: “He was a quiet man, but around family he came alive.
“He was a real family man and loved to gather everyone together over good food.
“He was also a gentle man.
“To say he was a gentleman sums him up, he never spoke badly of anybody, and was a man of strong faith.”
Leo worshipped weekly at St Margaret’s Cathedral in the town - where he was baptised, married, and today, remembered.