Robert V. Galbraith of Bainbridge Island passed away April 13, 2009, after a brief and courageous battle with lymphoma.

Bob was born Oct. 9, 1938, in Everett, to Leslie and Althea Galbraith. He graduated high school in Bremerton in 1956 and attended college at Washington State University. After beginning work at Pacific Northwest Bell, he was drafted into the Army in 1961 at the time the Berlin Wall was erected, serving at Dugway Proving Ground as a sergeant specializing in testing and maintaining chemical and biological defense systems.

After the army, Bob returned to Pacific Northwest Bell in Seattle as a systems analyst. He married Diane (Fries), in December 1969, and they moved to New Jersey where Bob worked at Bell Labs. In 1982 he graduated with honors from City University. Bob and Diane moved from the West Coast to the East Coast and back twice as a result of Bob’s career, first working for Bell Labs and later AT&T, from which he retired in 1990. In 1994 Bob and Diane moved back to the Pacific Northwest where Bob later worked in sales for Bay Street Yachts to fulfill his passion for sailing.

Bob then returned to work as a Systems Analyst, first for EDS in Poulsbo and then at Washington Mutual where he retired in April 2004.

Bob was an avid reader and collected books and appreciated art. He also was a season ticket holder to the Seattle Opera and enjoyed classical music and jazz. He loved sailing, wooden boats, painting, traveling, baseball, fishing, woodworking and Grand Prix racing.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father. He is survived by wife Diane of Bainbridge Island; brothers William (Jean) Galbraith of Yakima and Jack Galbraith of LaConner; his uncle Allan (Betty) Galbraith of Seattle; sister-in-laws Jeannie Powers of Manchester, Wash., and Lei Launi Johnson of Anaheim, Calif.; many nieces and nephews, lifelong friends, and family friend Elaine Brogdon.

A celebration of Bob’s life will be held at a later date. An online memorial is available at www.rill.com.