December 9
...serving up your daily dish.
The New York Times has more details on the bizarre murder of Glen Ridge resident Joan E. Galligan, 58, who was discovered Wednesday after not showing up to work.
Galligan had moved to Glen Ridge five years ago to be closer to her grandchildren.
"The only word I can think of is bizarre," Ms. Cicala [the victim's daughter] said.
"We never had a problem in New York City our whole lives, and we come to New Jersey and this is what happens," she added.
Neighbors said that Ms. Galligan was a pleasant woman, generous with safety and travel tips, and meticulous about maintaining her home, a recently remodeled tan house with a Christmas wreath on the front door, where she had even been seen vacuuming the driveway, one neighbor, Shalini Mohan, said.
Meanwhile, as others have noted, the murder comes almost exactly 10 years, and just a few houses away, from the shooting murder of 59-year-old Glen Ridge resident Ethel Duryea in 1995. That was the last homicide in Glen Ridge.
Funeral arrangements for Galligan, including a Mass on Monday, are listed here.
How very sad. My heartfelt thoughts go out to her family.
Posted by: Anne Prince | Dec 9, 2005 9:23:45 AM
same people who break into homes and vandalize cars in Glen Ridge
Posted by: frankx99 | Dec 9, 2005 10:55:33 AM
Why must New Yorkers always have a snide comment about NJ?
Posted by: heaven | Dec 9, 2005 1:55:55 PM
Those New Yorkers who bach Jersey are just conflicted about the "all" they're wanting to have: They want the yard, the schools, the neighborliness. They just need to keep convincing themselves they're more sophisticated and discerning than "we" are -- even though many/most of us have made the same westward trek as they, only years earlier, or, by virtue of our workaday lives, have in effect been New Yorkers for decades. Pity them their embarrassment; with patience, it'll pass.
Posted by: anonymous | Dec 9, 2005 1:59:25 PM
if your commenting on my comment you are incorrect, I live in Glen Ridge
Posted by: frankx99 | Dec 9, 2005 2:14:35 PM
Frank: Ms. Cicala [the victim's daughter] said: "We never had a problem in New York City our whole lives, and we come to New Jersey and this is what happens."
Posted by: anonymous | Dec 9, 2005 3:32:38 PM
I think they were referring to this:
"We never had a problem in New York City our whole lives, and we come to New Jersey and this is what happens," she added.
I don't think that is snide, but rather the simple thought that they considered NY more dangerous than NJ, which partially adds to the tragedy - moving out of the city for a better life, and then this.
Posted by: biff | Dec 9, 2005 4:04:12 PM
Yes, please. Lets not discect the words of a woman in grief after just losing her mother in a most tragic and horrifying way. A mother who apparently moved her to be near her or one of her siblings. (since I do not know the family I cannot assume the grandchildren were in fact Ms Cicala's, although it alludes to that in the passage)
Posted by: girl | Dec 9, 2005 4:56:01 PM
"Those New Yorkers who bach Jersey,,," / aka those New Yorkers who are always saying "fugue New Jersey."
Posted by: crank | Dec 9, 2005 5:20:04 PM
I do not think it is an issue between living in Glen Ridge or NYC. It seems to be an aggression against someone who would have been targeted no matter where they lived.
Posted by: s | Dec 10, 2005 3:29:08 AM
I know Kim, and I can assure you her comments were not meant to 'slam' NJ.
Kim moved to NJ a number of years ago in the hopes that NJ offered a better environment in which to raise a family, Joan moved there shortly afterwards to be nearer her and the grandkids.
Kim's comment was just that, an observation of the irony.
Posted by: Stringer | Dec 14, 2005 11:58:37 AM
Those who tried to clarify my comment, you are correct. Please understand the depth of my grief during this most difficult time, and don't read into one comment taken out of context.
Posted by: Kim Cicala | Dec 16, 2005 7:51:42 PM
Can you tell me if Joan ever work at Milbank Tweed around 1981? I was frineds with a joan Galligan there and wondering if this is the same person?
Posted by: Pat D | Mar 31, 2006 7:15:19 PM
