The Tribune

FORMER parliamentarian and insurance businessman Peter Galanos died at his home early yesterday morning at the age of 80.

The popular realtor leaves behind a wife and several children.

When contacted by this newspaper yesterday, his son, Collin Galanos said he received the shocking news around 3.30am Monday.

“It was very unexpected because there weren’t any telltale signs that he was in any life-threatening situation,” he told The Tribune yesterday.

“He was healthy and, yes, he was 80, but people are living longer these days and personally I expected him to be around much longer. It wouldn’t surprise me if he had reached 90 or 95 so it was unexpected from my perspective.”

Although Mr Galanos could not confirm his father’s cause of death, he said family members believe he died due to food poisoning.

“He had eaten some fish and started to have pains in his stomach, and he was taken to the doctor on Friday and my brother said they examined him and he took him home and (the doctor) said it was food poisoning,” he said.

Describing his father’s character yesterday, Mr Galanos said he was a “quick-witted” person who loved to make people laugh.

“My personality is the same as his and I’m always cracking jokes and he was always very jovial and he liked to make people laugh,” he said.

Meanwhile, the deceased’s nephew, Phillip Galanis labelled him as a “family” man who had a knack for business.

“He was a very kind, gentle and caring individual,” Mr Galanis said yesterday. “He was an outstanding businessman having started his career in banking and then he moved to insurance where he spent most of his life. He was very enterprising and had ideas for businesses and always thought to share those ideas with anyone who’d listen.

“He was also a Member of Parliament for the Pinedale constituency from 1992 to 1997 for the FNM and he was a wonderful family man.”

Tributes also poured out on social media after news circulated of Mr Galanos’ death.

“RIP to a giant of a man loved by many,” one Facebook user said.

Another added: “My condolences go out to the family. May the soul of the dearly departed RIP and rise in glory.”