Frederick T. Galvin Memorial Scholarship

It is difficult to describe Fred Galvin without sounding overly dramatic. All who knew him would agree, however, that he was a much respected, much loved man. He was known especially for his gentility, good humor and devotion to his family. But he was also a professional with an outstanding reputation, having served many years with the Central Intelligence Agency and the U.S. State Department. This scholarship reflects those aspects of Fred’s life.

Fred was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and attended both elementary and high school in the Boston area. He served in the U.S. Navy and was awarded several decorations, including the Korean Service Medal with six stars. He attended Northeastern University where he was recruited by the CIA. After four years with the CIA, he transferred to the State Department, where he served until retirement. During those years he was assigned to Frankfurt, Manila, Abidjan, Kuwait and East Berlin.

Fred loved life and embraced all that it had to offer. He was an electrical engineer, security engineering officer, golfer, sports enthusiast and raconteur with a devastating wit. He was also a loving husband to Patty and stepfather to Mark Marius, who served on CLU’s admission staff before attending seminary. Fred was on the campus of CLU only once, and that was to see Mark graduate with the class of 1992. Fred and Patty shared 10 very happy years before his untimely death in 1994. At his memorial service, Mark praised Fred with these words: “Fred had a zest for life and lived it to the fullest.”

It was Patty Galvin who initiated the Frederick T. Galvin Memorial Scholarship, and Fred’s relatives and host of friends worldwide who ultimately endowed it. The scholarship is designed for upper-division CLU students who plan to pursue careers in the Foreign Service or with governmental agencies. Hopefully they will follow in the footsteps of this giant of a man who served with pride and dignity. The Frederick T. Galvin Memorial Scholarship became officially endowed in 1998.