Andrew Lalo Gallegos

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Andrew Lalo Gallegos

January 7, 1940 ~ November 8, 2021

Andrew Lalo Gallegos (Andy), age 81, passed away in Salt Lake City November 8, 2021 of complications from cardiovascular disease and associated dementia. He was born on January 7, 1940 in La Jara, New Mexico to Elia Sandoval and Alphonso T. Gallegos.

In 1941, Andy moved to Salt Lake City with his family. He attended West High School and was the first Hispanic student body president. Andy graduated from the University of Utah with both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree, with honors. He was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity.  

A Vietnam-era veteran, Andy was stationed at Fort Amadore in the Panama Canal Zone as an intelligence analyst. Andy was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in 1965. He worked for United Airlines as a marketing manager in Detroit, Cleveland, and San Francisco. He became the executive director of the Salt Lake Community Action Program from 1973-1976. He created the Institute of Human Resource Development, now known as Central de la Familia. He founded the Utah Hispanic Democratic Caucus and was a key organizer of the first Utah Chicano Conference in the 1970s.

In the late 1970s, Governor Scott M. Matheson asked Andy to work for his administration. He unified social services across the state, and co-authored the book The Unification of Social Services: The Utah Experience. He became the executive director of Social Services in 1981 and served until 1983. From 1980-1983, Andy was an adjunct professor at the University of Utah College of Social Work.

Andy married his wife, Joan Marian Marsh, on December 8, 1984 in Midvale; marriage solemnized in 1989 at St. Ambrose Catholic Church.  

Andy founded Impact Business Consultants, where he helped minority-owned businesses. In 1985, he was awarded the Small Business Advocate Award for his notable achievements. In the late 1980s, he became the father of two girls, Audrey and Sarah.

From 1995 to his retirement in 2002, he served as the director of marketing and rideshare development for the Utah Transit Authority. Andy was very proud of submitting the winning name, TRAX, for the new light rail system.

He chaired the South High School Closure Committee, along with being a member of the Salt Lake School District Boundary Committee. In 1982, he was a member of the U.S. State Department Delegation to the Southeast Asia Refugee Resettlement. As board chair of Utah Catholic Community Services, Andy led the building of the St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen and the Bishop Weigand Day Center for the Homeless. In 2018, he received the Utah Coalition of La Raza Lifetime Achievement award for his years of leadership, public service, and advocacy in the Latino community.  

Andy is survived by his wife Joan; daughters Audrey and Sarah (Anton); brothers Alphonso, Dick and sister Gloria Peters (Bill); and his beloved pet dogs Flounder, Bing and Frankie. He was preceded in death by his parents, Elia and Alphonso T.; brothers Epifanio, Arthur, Joe Fred, Efren; and sister Josephine.  

A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, November 20 at the University of Utah Red Butte Gardens Orangerie.  In lieu of flowers, donations to Defenders of Wildlife or Catholic Community Services of Utah would be most appreciated.