Dr. Daniel Tapia Gallego, our beloved and cherished patriarch died suddenly and peacefully, Wednesday, October 21, 1998 from a stroke.
He was born on January 9, 1935 in Brawley, California, to Guillermo Gallego and Celia Tapia. He married Myrtle Caroline Borup, May 20, 1960 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. He graduated from high school in Delano, California; he earned his B.S. degree at Brigham Young University; an M.A. at Mississippi State University; and his Ph.D. at Utah State University. He was a popular professor of Sociology at Weber State University for 27 years. It is estimated that he taught over 17,000 students during his tenure.He was a renowned international speaker and advocate for improving the services for Latino elderly throughout the world. He was the founder of the National Hispanic Council on Aging; National Minority Affairs Specialist; and Committee Member on the National Economic Security/Work Advisory for AARP. He also sat on the Advisory Committee for the National Institute on Aging in Washington, D.C.. He was invited to participate in the first White House Conference on Aging, under President Ronald Reagan. He also held numerous other national leadership positions. One of the many things that he took pride in was that of being the first Cosmo-the-Cougar at BYU.
He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, in the Kingston Ward. He served as a missionary in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Guam; as Bishop, High Councilor, High Priest Group leader, and also as "Den Mother" for his son's Cub Scout Pack.
He was a dedicated family man who loved his dear wife, Myrtle, his children and grandchildren. He is survived by his wife Myrtle Borup Gallego, and children, Danita and Gary Toyn , Brendon and Linda Gallego, Rachelle and Blake Knight, Alicia and Jeff Mason and Kari and Diana Gallego, plus 14 grandchildren.
The viewing will be held on Friday, October 23rd from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Weber Heights Stake Center at 1401 Country Hills Drive (adjacent to the Dee Events Center). Family and friends will gather Saturday, October 24th at Rogers & Taylor Funeral Home, 111 North, 100 East in Tremonton, Utah for Internment services. Memorial services will then be held at 2 p.m in the Ogden, Utah Kingston Ward Chapel at 1425 Kingston Dr. (approximately 36th St & Polk Avenue) with Bishop Reed Richards officiating.
The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the Dr. Daniel T. Gallego Memorial Scholarship Fund at Weber State University, 3750 Harrison Blvd., Ogden, Utah, 84408.
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