My dear brother Todd passed from this world today, July 29th, 2013 at 3:30PM central time after waging a valiant fight against Glioblastoma Multiforme, an insidious and deadly form of brain cancer.

I think John Lennon said it best "The love you take is equal to the love you make" Todd truely gave and received much love during his life. Todd was surrounded by a large gathering of his loving family and friends as he passed from this world.

 On Wednesday July 24th, I spent time visiting with Todd on the patio outside of his hospice room.  At that time he was fully able to understand our conversation, but he was having great difficulty expressing his thoughts and his memory was quite confused.  Never the less, we had a nice visit, I kissed him goodbye and told him how much I loved him.  He replied in the same.

 I am told that he was still awake and conversant to a degree on Friday July 26th , but was sleeping a lot.  When my wife Tamy and I came to see Todd on Saturday morning July 27th, Todd was no longer conscious and was not capable of being aroused to any significant degree.  When we visited on Sunday July 28th, his condition was the same.

I arrived on Monday morning around 10AM and his breathing had become rapid and labored.  His color was beginning to become ashen.  Todd’s wife Paula called me and said that the nurse had just called her and said that Todd’s condition was getting rapidly worse.  I called my wife Tamy and she soon arrived from work.  Paula soon arrived and so did all of the children and also the rest of Paula’s family.

During  the next several hours there was little change in Todd’s condition.  The nurses came in to check Todd’s vitals and administer morphine to keep Todd free of pain. 

Around 3PM Todd’s breathing started to become more labored, and his color was getting grayer.  Around 3:25PM his breathing slowed down a lot and became just an occasional gasp for air. We knew the end was very near. Paula and I, and all those who loved Todd so very much took turns holding Todd, telling him how much we love him and that it was OK now to let go and be at peace.  Five minutes later at 3:30PM central time on July 29th, 2013, our beloved Todd took his last breath, and passed from this world to be with our Father in heaven.

Todd fought the good fight and gave it his ALL, as he did with everything in life.  My brother was a kind and gentle soul, who will always be remembered for his great love, kindness and generosity by all of those whose lives he touched.

The Galanter family would like to express our deepest sympathies to Paula, her two sons Arron and Alex, and her daughter Shelley.  Todd and Paula had a very strong love for each other, and Todd loved and nurtured Aaron, Alex and Shelley as if they were his own children.  The legacy of Todd’s love will live on in Paula and the children as a testament to the wonderful, kind and loving man my brother was.

As for me and our mother Wanda who is 97, we will long mourn the loss of our brother and son.  I was 5 years old when my parents, Wanda and Joseph Galanter, brought Todd home from the hospital and I got to see my baby brother for the first time.  I remember that day as if it was yesterday. Todd was not only my brother, but more than that, he was my best friend for over 60 years. At several times during my life I had experienceed personal tragedies. Todd was always there for me to help me get through these tough times. 

I am left with a profound sense of emptiness; like a key part of my existence is now missing.  Todd and I were always there for each other.  Whenever one of us needed the other, we always lifted an outstretched helping hand to each other.  Our talents complimented each other as we walked the road of life together.

Everyone who knew you Todd, loved you and will forever miss you.  May you rest in peace and spend eternal life with our Father in heaven.