Tuesday, but belies his age with a sharp wit and ability to recall memories from when he was a little boy.
Born in Jalisco, Mexico, Galvan only went to school for one day before his impoverished family sent him out to work. He continued working labor-intensive jobs after immigrating to Santa Monica in 1927, signing on with a construction company a year after he arrived.
Alejandra’s first husband — a cowork-er of Galvan’s — was buried alive in a ditch dug for sewage pipes. Galvan almost befell the same doom, but he narrowly escaped death. Galvan subsequently courted Alejandra, marrying her at St. Monica’s Church in 1930.
Galvan has seen much in his 104 years — two world wars, the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, the baby boom, civil rights movements, 9/11 — a veritable textbook of life experience. He wanted to fight in World War II, but wasn’t accepted because of his language barrier, and because he was the sole provider for a large family.
During the Depression, his family got by thanks to stamps for clothing, gas and food. Galvan eventually became a gardener at a nursery, then a self-employed one, retiring at 86.
Through the years, Galvan always set aside a portion of his paychecks for his financially troubled family in Mexico. He traveled back to Mexico often to bring his mother and two sisters food and money. Galvan’s life at home was full as well, fathering nine children with Alejandra.
His only regret? Not having a formal education, but took pride in seeing his descendants going on to college and succeeding professionally.
Galvan — the last of five generations alive in his family today — has 47 grand-children, 90 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren.
Galvan recently took time to speak with the Daily Press, and reflect on an extraordinary life.
What is your most memorable memory? “I lived a beautiful life when my wife was alive. We went to Mexico. When I first came here (to Santa Monica), all I knew was the areas I lived. When I met my wife, we traveled throughout Mexico to places I didn’t know existed.”
How have the advancements in technology affected your life?
“They are good for everybody. All technology makes life a lot easier for people. For young people a lot of schooling, learning is good. In those days there was a lot of labor. It’s a beautiful time for young people, progress for everybody. The main thing is education.”
How has Santa Monica changed over the years?
“A lot. It’s all modern. We have never seen this before. The babies were born at home in my time. Doctors would come to the house.”
To what do you attribute your longevity? “I credit my health. The attention and care I’ve gotten to my health (from family) and having a marvelous life.”
How long do you think you are going to live?
“I’m ready whenever God calls me. The virgins and gods that saw me be born, they are going to take me someday when my time comes. Whatever God wants. I pray night and day. God has already given me a long life and a lot of joy and I’ve seen so much. Beautiful. Nice times for everybody. I reminisce often from a time when I can remember what I went through in life. I never desired to get married. I always asked God for courage to come to this country.”
What words of wisdom can you impart? “To study, first of all. Go forward. With a lot of education, people have awakened. Everything was hard before. Life has become easier and a lot of roads have opened up. Technology from today (has changed a lot). Years before it was all manual labor. With education, your intelligence goes up and grows and grows. Because of education and lecturing people have grown up high. It’s beautiful for youth who are living with technology.
“They are learning from education.” (Pedro Galvan’s daughter, Irene Galvan, and granddaughter, Rosie Garcia, helped translate his responses for the purposes of this article.)
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 17, 2005. Read the original PDF.