Eva Borgland Gallant

Eva Borglund Gallant passed away in Ayer, MA on Sept. 24, 2015 at the age of 85 from complications of Alzheimer's disease. Mrs. Gallant was born on December 15, 1929 in Stockholm, Sweden. While traveling in Greece, she met William Erskine Gallant, Jr., an American who was also traveling at the time. They soon married, and she moved to the US, eventually gaining citizenship. They resided on a farm outside of Anderson, SC where they started their family, later moving to Chestnut Hill, MA, a suburb of Boston. In the early 1990s, they moved to Oak Bluffs, MA, on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, where she spent the majority of her last years before being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Her time on Martha’s Vineyard was of particular importance to her, as she found the nature on the island to be reminiscent of her homeland, Sweden. As a young woman in Sweden, Mrs. Gallant was a journalist for a newspaper in Stockholm and often reported stories for the entertainment section. A high point was spending the day with director Ingmar Bergman on the set of one of his films. She was also a gymnast/dancer with the Swedish rhythmic gymnastics team known as the “Idla Girls'. Under the direction of Ernst Idla, she had the opportunity to travel and perform in different countries around the world. Mrs. Gallant was a prolific artist of textile works. Her creative abilities included papermaking, weaving, and knitting with wire. Her work was exhibited in numerous galleries including on Martha’s Vineyard at Featherstone Meetinghouse for the Arts, Field Gallery and Shaw Cramer Gallery. She also exhibited her pieces in national and regional shows across the US, including prominently in shows at the Massachusetts Society for Arts and Crafts on Newbury Street, the Arts Foundation of Boston, the Warwick Museum in Rhode Island, and the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, MA. Art was Mrs. Gallant’s true passion, and she continued to create work until her illness prevented her from doing so. She had a marvelous sense of humor, often portrayed in her art. She loved animals and had a special fondness for the feline variety. She enjoyed listening to classical music, and liked to take long walks near her home by Sengekontacket Pond on Martha’s Vineyard. Mrs. Gallant was a kind, loving and generous spirit, always able to find beauty in even the simplest of things. Mrs. Gallant is survived by her husband, William Erskine Gallant, Jr.; her three children, Eva Nancy Gallant, Julia Peek Gallant, and William Erskine Gallant, III and his wife, Deanna; her grandchildren, Kathryn, Jamie, Alexander, and Nicholas. In Sweden she is survived by her sister-in-law Gebe Borglund; her niece, Tove Janson Borglund, her husband Johan Janson, and their sons Adrian Tinz and Cedric Borglund Janson. She is preceded in death by her parents, Nancy Borglund (Carlson) and Harry Borglund, and her brother, Tore Borglund. Eva Borglund Gallant will be greatly missed by her family and friends. There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease at this time. Cure Alzheimer’s Fund is a leading organization in the US that is seeking a cure. Please consider making a donation to Cure Alzheimers Fund in Eva Gallant’s name at this address: http://www.curealz.org/in-memory/eva-gallant#sthash.syPGeIHr.dpuf