Megan Elizabeth Gallardo
February 25, 1968 – January 30, 2026

Megan Elizabeth Gallardo died peacefully at home on January 30, 2026, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She was held in the arms of her beloved husband, Carlos A. Gallardo, surrounded by friends, family members and love.

Born in San Diego, California in 1968, Megan lived and worked around the world, including in Mexico, Brazil, Serbia, Montenegro, the Netherlands, and Spain. She is survived by her husband, Carlos, and her sister, Pamela Landers Murphy (and her husband, Kevin), mother-in-law, Bertha Viveros, father-in-law, Juan Manuel Gallardo, two brothers-in-law, Juan Manuel and Oscar Gallardo, a sister-in-law, Ana Gallardo, five nieces, one grandniece, aunts, cousins, and many, many friends around the world. Her parents, Louis Landers and Peggy O’Neil Landers predeceased her.

Megan devoted her professional life to service, reaching the apex of her specialty in the U.S. Foreign Service by supporting chiefs of mission and undersecretaries with a rare combination of deep expertise, scrupulous ethics, and unfailing professionalism. She earned the admiration of colleagues across the globe by being the person who always stepped in. She was a tireless advocate for the professional development of local staff and their loudest cheerleader, celebrating their successes with pride and joy. To Megan, service was not confined to a job description; it was how she moved through the world every single day.

That spirit of service extended far beyond embassy walls. In every country she moved to during her State Department tenure, Megan sought out ways to help those most in need—planting flowers at nursing facilities, cleaning cages at animal shelters, and building bridges of kindness. No where did her impact shine more brightly than in Bolivia. In 2013, she received the Secretary of State Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Abroad for leading the refurbishment of a dilapidated radiation therapy center in La Paz after learning that uninsured patients queued for hours to receive care. She secured a J. Kirby Simon Foreign Trust grant and spent months negotiating with Bolivian authorities to repair the roof and build seating for waiting patients. The award also recognized her work supporting young women rescued from sex trafficking, for whom she organized professional workshops, mentoring opportunities, and even a girls-only prom. When asked about her motivation, Megan explained it simply: “There’s always a few hours in the day to give back.”

In her final years, Megan continued to live that philosophy close to home, volunteering with the Arlington Food Assistance Center by delivering food to those too sick or elderly to shop for themselves.

Above all, Megan will be remembered for the joy she brought into the lives of others. Friends across continents describe her as an extraordinary woman—a fighter, a lover of life, and a radiant presence. She was a ray of sunshine, a bright light in every room, and someone whose generosity knew no limits. Those who knew her will always remember Megan for her generous heart and her remarkable ability to make people laugh. Her kindness, wisdom, and wicked sense of humor left an indelible mark on everyone she met.

People speak with love of her zest for adventure, her fearlessness, her intolerance for injustice, her loyalty to friends, her wry wit, wacky hobbies, unforgettable Halloween costumes, spirited rants, and—always—her smile. Many say the same thing in different ways: the world is less bright without her, but her memory will be a blessing to all who were fortunate enough to know her.

Megan’s greatest devotion was to Carlos, her partner in life, love, and adventure. Their bond was evident to all, and her love for him was boundless.

Megan Elizabeth Gallardo leaves behind a legacy of service, laughter, courage, and love that spans continents and generations. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

A celebration of Megan’s life will be held at a later date.

Donations can be made in Megan’s memory to:

Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) 

Animal Welfare League of Arlington