Marcele Gallez

Marcele Gallez of Santa Rosa, an accomplished pianist and beloved piano teacher to her many students, passed away on January 20, 2026. She was 102. Marcele Anne Resta was born in 1923 in the Panama Canal Zone where her father, a recent immigrant from Italy, was stationed. Both of her parents were performing musicians and teachers, and she learned to play the piano at a young age. The oldest of three siblings, she moved with the family from one military base to another, living in Hawaii for a time before settling at the West Point Military Academy where her father had accepted the job of leading the Academy Band. She and her brothers attended the local schools while growing up in the tradition-steeped culture of West Point. After high school, Marcele was accepted by the Juilliard School, a prestigious conservatory of music and the arts, where she studied music history, theory and piano performance. Around this time, she met her future husband, Douglas Gallez, a cadet at the academy who shared her love of music. Their romance was interrupted by his being commissioned and sent to France in 1944 where he participated in the liberation of Europe from the Nazis. They corresponded throughout this time and were married after his return to the states. Their daughter Leslie was born in 1950, and son Paul was born the following year in Germany, which was recovering from the devastation of the war. Returning to the states, they lived in New York, California and Virginia while Doug moved from post to post and pursued advanced degrees. While dutifully filling the role of military wife and mother, Marcele taught piano and performed regularly as they moved frequently. Her strong will and determination saw her through the challenges of these years. A second son, John, was born in 1959. In 1964, Doug retired from the army and became a professor at San Francisco State College, and the family began a new life in the Bay Area. They settled in Mill Valley, and Marcele began teaching a new group of students, this time benefitting from staying in one community long enough to build a class. She joined the Marin Music Teacher's Association and made many friends among her teaching colleagues. Marcele continued to perform regularly both as a solo pianist and with her fellow musicians and was actively involved in the association, including serving as president. In 1983, Marcele and Doug became captivated by the beauty of the American Southwest and moved to Sedona, Arizona to start a new life together. They built their dream home among the red rock cliffs and made many new friends among the artists and musicians in the community. This was a joyful period of their life, as Marcele continued to teach, perform, and enjoy the work of many local artists and the great beauty of the landscape. Sadly, Doug's physical and cognitive decline after 2000 changed their life forever, but Marcele cared for him in their home with great devotion until his death in 2007. The following year she moved to Santa Rosa, California to be close to her daughter but continued living in her own home, teaching and performing in local music groups past the age of 100. She cherished her connection to her family, including her grandchildren and great-grandchildren during her last years, visiting with them whenever she could. Marcele loved the arts and nature, and appreciated beauty wherever she found it. She cultivated this beautiful environment in her home and eagerly welcomed visits from friends, former students and her family. But her greatest love was teaching piano, and fostering an appreciation of music in her young students. Many of them studied with her throughout their youth and stayed in touch with her for years afterward. Knowing that she had changed their lives in this way brought her great joy.

Marcele Gallez

June 12, 1923 - January 20, 2026