Richard Edward Ganley

Born on April 21, 1939, to Frederick William Ganley and Helen Doris MacFarlane Ganley, Dick Ganley was a lifelong resident of Arlington County, where he immersed himself in his community. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Elizabeth Ganley, and Christopher Ganley and his daughters, Jordan and Erin; Michael and Kristin Ganley and their children, Abigail, Claire, Patrick and James; and Catherine and Joseph Ganley and their daughters Megan, Helen and Mary Kate.

Dick, as he was known, grew up in North Arlington with his older brother Frederick W. Ganley, Jr. (Natalie), where the two were inseparable as they spent time playing with their dog Diggy-boo and generally making mischief on Jefferson Street and at St. Ann’s Catholic School. As he grew older, he developed a love for classical music, teaching himself saxophone and clarinet, which he played at Gonzaga College High School (Class of 1957). He was good enough that he was granted a music scholarship to attend St. Bonaventure’s University (NY) after an audition so inspiring that it caused all the Franciscan brothers in the silent monastery to open their doors to see what was causing all the commotion. After graduation in 1961, Dick joined the United States Navy and served on an LST during the Vietnam War. He left the Navy in 1967 and began work with the United States Post Office where he received awards for instituting the USPS’s Selective Service Program, the same program still in effect today. Upon his retirement in 1990, Dick wanted to try something more people focused, and he began a second career in real estate where he used his knowledge of Arlington County to earn numerous top seller awards with Long and Foster, a career he enjoyed until his second retirement in 2015.

Dick was always involved in the community, and you could find him at the Knights of Columbus working the Holy Mackerel swim meets, serving as a waiter with the Waiters Team, or simply kibitzing with the other families he either grew up with or met along the way. He also was actively involved with the Arlington Soccer Association where he coached multiple Potomac Kiwanas soccer teams starting with its creation in 1970 and could then be found running up and down the fields referring multiple games each weekend. Dick also served as PTA president at Jamestown Elementary School and volunteered with HOPE.

However, his biggest passions, outside of his family, focused on music, travel, sailing, and Washington sports teams. He loved classical music and, after a long hiatus, took up playing again with the Vienna Band, whose concerts became family events. Dick and Betty were world travelers, with over 100 countries visited. While Betty preferred to be on land, Dick enjoyed sitting on the ships’ verandas watching the water float by. Dick also loved to sail, likely inspired by his days sailing toy boats on the Washington Monument’s Reflecting Pool with his brother, Freddy. At some point in the 80s, the two brothers found an abandoned sailboat and refurbished it. They named the bright red boat the “Yelnag,” jokingly claiming that the boat’s name wasn’t simply their last name in reverse, but rather because when they left to go sailing they said, “One wife yelled, while the other one nagged.” From there, they spent their weekends sailing, or at least trying to, around the Potomac River.

And Dick loved Washington sports, well, most Washington sports. He and his family had held season tickets with the Redskins since Griffey Stadium (Redskins side, 50 yard line, 10 rows back), and no fall Sunday was complete without watching the game in real time (no DVR allowed). Dick took his family to see the Washington Diplomats soccer team play way before soccer was cool, and he always found time to watch the United (or any other soccer game, really). He watched the Senators as a young man and was thrilled when the Nationals had their first game back in town, a team he followed until the end. He liked the Caps, but the Wizards a little less so.

However, it was Dick’s patience, kindness, and thoughtfulness that we will all miss. He never had a cross word for anyone and could find the good in any situation. Even DC traffic, which he saw increase on his daily commutes into the city, didn’t do more than inspire creative lane changes. He was more than happy to let others have the spotlight, be a calming spirit on the sideline of every sports game or interminable middle school concert, or reassuring advice giver and teacher when life got a little too stressful.

His family will host a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Agnes Catholic Church on June 1 at 11 am followed by an interment at Columbia Gardens Cemetery at 12:15 pm and a reception at the Arlington Knights of Columbus at 1:30 pm. All are invited to attend. The funeral will also be livestreamed through murphyfuneralhomes.com.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Dick’s honor to the Gonzaga College High School’s Music Department: https://www.gonzaga.org/support-gonzaga/make-a-gift

Gonzaga College High School

Memo -- Memory of Richard Ganley '57

19 I Street, NW

Washington, DC 20001