While attending nearby Burlington High School, Ganley played baseball, basketball, and was captain of the football team.
He attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he wrote for the Daily Collegian and was a member of the Beta Kappa Phi fraternity.
In 1976, he moved to South Portland, Maine and was appointed assistant city manager.
[2][3] Ganley is credited with helping bring the Portland Sea Dogs baseball team to the city and the building of the stadium in which they play (Hadlock Field).
In April 2001, Congressman and Portland resident Tom Allen delivered a memorial speech in his honor to the U.S. House of Representatives.