Vikki & Jim Gallistel
Married: May 15, 1993
Jim: 3/20/52 - 5/30/98
Vikki: 12/4/57
Jim's occupation: Musician He played drums and sang lead in various local country music bands.

We met on April 6, 1986 at a bar where he was working in Valparaiso, Indiana. We started talking that night, and over the next 12 years, I don't think we spent more than 45 days apart.
We were inseparable, almost like Siamese twins in fact. If you saw one of us, you automatically knew the other was nearby. We sincerely enjoyed being with one another, and we were the best of friends.

Jim came from a small family and I have 5 brothers and sisters, as well as my parents, so he always enjoyed my family gatherings. There was always alot of laughter and food, perfect accompaniments for any social get togather. Well atleast for my family!

As atated above, Jim died on May 30, 1998 which was a beautiful Saturday in NW Indiana. He was to have played that night, so we had set up his drums the night before. Saturday dawned bright and beautiful, and we decided to watch a movie until we had to start getting ready for the band gig.

Jim decided to lay down on the bed for a while, but he couldn't seem to get comfortable. He kepy tossing from side to side. We were talking at this poing, I asked him a question, he sat up and then fell back on my legs.

I checked for a pulse and got a weak one, and I then gave him mouth to mouth recessatation to restore his breathing. Then I called 911, ane the paramedics arrived within minutes. Thats all the did. The paramedics were both women and they refused to enter my home because I had several small dogs that were barking, due to all the noise and commotion. Thye would not have haarmed anyone. The paramedics just let my husband die.

To add insult to injury, the coroner would not even come to the house. Instead, he was contacted by cell phone from one of the EMS vehicles. He asked me if Jim had been under a doctor's care (NO), was he on any medications (NO) was he taking any illegal drugs (NO, but what a stupid question), and was I satisfied that he died a natural death (Yes).
The coroner then said that no autopsy was needed and that was that. Gee thanks for taking time out of your busy schudule to contact a phone interview, you jerk.

Anyways, I am grateful for the twelve years we shared, and also that he didn't suffer. To paraphrase the immortal words of Bob Seeger, The page has turned.