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Charlotte Amalie
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesDR. ANDRE GALIBER SR. DEAD AT 72

DR. ANDRE GALIBER SR. DEAD AT 72

Prominent Virgin Islands radiologist and physician Dr. Andre Galiber Sr. died Sunday in his home on St. Croix, surrounded by his family. Galiber had fought a 10-year battle with prostate cancer.
A funeral service is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the Holy Cross Church in Christiansted. Burial will follow at the Christiansted cemetery.
Galiber, who was born and raised on St. Thomas, had devoted his life to the territory.
In June, the Radiology and Cardiovascular Laboratory Department at Juan F. Luis Hospital was dedicated to Galiber in honor of his many contributions to the unit, the hospital and the territory.
On the memorial plaque, Francis M. Molloy, chairman of the Juan F. Luis Hospital Board, wrote the "unit is dedicated to recognize his (Galiber's) significant contributions to diagnostic imaging."
On Aug. 5, Dr. Galiber celebrated his 72nd birthday and a month later, on Sept. 7, his 44th wedding anniversary, which was celebrated with his wife, Edith Rose Lewis-Galiber, at his bedside.
His daughter, Cecile deJongh, said, "He was our hero. For all of us he was our inspiration. He pushed us to succeed. Failure was never an option."
After graduating from Howard University in 1957 with his medical degree, he completed his internship and initial residency at Freedman's Hospital in Washington, D.C. In 1963, Galiber became the first black physician to complete a residency at Indiana University. The same year he became the first full-time, board-certified V.I. radiologist and he was the only Virgin Islands fellow of the American College of Radiology.
Galiber was the director of the Charles Harwood Hospital radiology department in the 1960s and '70s and then of the radiology department at what was then St. Croix Hospital (now Luis Hospital) until his retirement in 1984.
After his retirement he continued to serve as a volunteer radiology consultant at the hospital.
He was a founding member of the Island Medical Center, established in 1974.
In 1986, Galiber was the Virgin Islands Medical Society's distinguished physician and was a 1999 American Cancer Society honoree. He was a mentor and employer of many students pursuing health science careers, according to his son, Dr. Angelo Galiber, one of three of seven children who chose to become physicians. All three practice medicine on St. Croix.
Since 1963,the senior Galiber had served as president, executive secretary, treasurer, National Medical Association delegate and American Medical Association delegate of the Virgin Islands Medical Society. He was also a president of the St. Croix Hospital Medical Staff.
Another significant contribution was his leadership in Continuing Medical Education. He presented, coordinated and/or monitored several seminars for peers and nursing professionals, Angelo Galiber said.
Andre Galiber Sr. provided professional ultrasound experience and most of the technical training during the first 10 years of ultrasound services at Luis Hospital.
He is survived by his wife,Edith Rose Lewis-Galiber, and his seven children: Lorraine Gundel, Dr. Andre Galiber Jr., Dr. Angelo Galiber, Lisa Forgeron, Cecile de Jongh, Dr. Dante Galiber and Marcel Galiber. He is also survived by siblings Dr. Flavius Galiber Sr., Rudolph Galiber, Doris Roberts, Gerda Galiber, Norma Bingham, and Lt. Col. (Ret.) Leayale Galiber.
Galiber has 15 grandchildren: Tiphanie and Zachary Gundel, Amanda Galiber, Angelo II, Nicole and William Galiber, Isla and Che Vanterpool, John III, Rene and Julian de Jongh, Dominique Galiber, Marcel II, Chelsea and Javier Galiber. Also surviving him are his in-laws Henna Roebuck-Galiber, Yvonne Ashley-Galiber, Wilma Belardo-Galiber, Mark Forgeron and John de Jongh, Jr.
Dr. Galiber survived his parents Adele Lanclos-Galiber and Henry Galiber.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Holy Cross Catholic Church on St. Croix and the St. Croix chapter of the American Cancer Society.

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