The municipal council of Sant Cugat del Vallès has unanimously named Octavi Galceran as the city's favourite son posthumously, during an extraordinary session held on Monday. Galceran passed away on 29 August 2025 at the age of 101.
Having arrived in Sant Cugat in 1930, Galceran established a lasting connection with the city that spanned over nine decades. Throughout his life, he became a prominent figure in cultural, associative, and heritage circles, actively participating in numerous initiatives that helped shape the collective identity of the city.
His legacy is marked by a steadfast commitment to community service and a remarkable sensitivity towards the history, landscape, traditions, and people that have defined Sant Cugat. Mayor Josep Maria Vallès stated, “Today, Sant Cugat recognises Octavi Galceran as the city's favourite son posthumously, for his vital, cultural, and associative journey, and for his extraordinary contribution to preserving our historical memory. We do this with pride, gratitude, and emotion. Octavi not only lived through more than a century of history; he had the insight and sensitivity to document it.”
One of the most significant aspects of Galceran's legacy is his contribution to the photographic documentation of Sant Cugat. For decades, he captured images of the city, its spaces, activities, and people, leaving behind an exceptional photographic legacy that serves as an essential documentary source for understanding the urban, social, and cultural evolution of the municipality throughout the 20th century.
Galceran's contributions to Sant Cugat's cultural heritage also extend to cinema. The 8mm films he recorded during the 1960s and 70s provide a unique visual testimony of everyday life, popular festivals, social activities, and landscapes from that period.
His impact on the city was not limited to artistic or documentary creation. In 1944, he was one of the founders of the Club Muntanyenc Sant Cugat, playing a crucial role in establishing an entity that has become one of the main social, sports, and cultural engines of the municipality.
Galceran's public contributions were acknowledged during his lifetime by the city itself. In recognition of his centenary, the Sant Cugat City Council awarded him the Longevity Medal and various institutional recognitions. In 2025, a tribute was held in the City Hall's Plenary Hall, attended by over a hundred people, highlighting the affection and respect he garnered among citizens and local institutions.
