Andy K. Galbraith
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Andrew Kooichi Galbraith (Andy). Andy was born on April 29,1961 in Santa Barbara, CA to parents Clinton (Chief) and Reiko Galbraith. He passed away on November 15, 2022 at his home in Willows, CA after an approximately six month battle with cancer.
Andy spent his early years in Goleta, CA where his dad had a motorcycle shop. He attended Goleta Union and Fairview elementary schools and Goleta Valley Jr. High. The family moved to the foothills of San Roque and he then attended La Colina Jr. High and San Marcos High School. Starting at a young age Andy raced motorcycles with his dad both locally and many weekends in the desert, and he could often be seen tearing around town with his friends on their tricked out bicycles.
As an adult in Santa Barbara Andy took classes at SBCC, worked as a car mechanic, and was always rebuilding his car to make it cooler, faster and more powerful. He was always gifted mechanically and preferred working with his hands. Even though he worked on cars all day, he spent many after work and weekend hours helping friends and family with their vehicles.
In the early 1990’s Andy moved to Willows, CA where he started a family, made many friends, and worked on tractors and agricultural vehicles, working at Holt Ag Solutions. Andy’s pride and joy (besides his children) was his beautiful El Camino race car, which he was constantly working on to perfect and make run as fast as possible. He raced his car and participated in the annual car show in Willows.
Andy was friendly and funny and enjoyed hanging out with family and friends, laughing and telling stories. He is greatly missed and will always be loved and remembered for his spirit, strength, kindness, big booming voice and laugh, and wonderful sense of humor.
Andy is survived by Jennifer Galbraith, their son Andy Jr. and daughter Emily; father Chief, mother Reiko, stepfather Mamo and stepmother Kathie; sisters Setsuko and Christine; nephew Ryan; and cousins Steve, Sunnie, Joe, Bob, Wil and Suzy. He is predeceased by grandmother Mary Ellen, uncles Avery and Steven, aunt Lady Mary and cousin Blue. Celebration of Life services are being planned for Willows and Santa Barbara.