Obituary of Margot Fortunato Galt

Margot Fortunato Galt

age 81, of St. Paul, died on July 13. Born in Pittsburgh on Sept. 4, 1942, she spent formative years in Charleston, SC, where her father taught at The Citadel and her mother worked as a librarian. She was educated at Goucher College and Columbia University, earned a PhD in American Studies at the University of Minnesota and remained in the Twin Cities the rest of her life. A passionate advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion decades before the terms became corporate buzzwords, Margot spent her professional life as a writer and educator. Her nonfiction books include a collaborative biography with Ojibwe artist George Morrison and a history of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. She contributed to numerous poetry anthologies and to the Women’s Art Registry of Minnesota (WARM) Journal. A gifted pianist, Margot was a staunch supporter of local artists and arts organizations.  She donated to national and international animal welfare and environmental causes. She is survived by her husband Fran, daughter Helena Kriel, stepchildren Alexis Galt and Jacob (Michelle) Galt, sister D’Anna Fortunato, four  grandchildren, and much-loved cat and grand-dogs. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Our Lady of Peace Hospice https://ourladyofpeacemn.org/donate/ or Red Lake Nation College https://www.givemn.org/donate/Red-Lake-Nation-College/ . A celebration of life will be held at La Rive, 110 SE Bank St., Minneapolis on Friday, August 2, reception at 4 pm, remembrances at 5 pm.