Tilly Gaillard, 87 (born in 1937) our dear friend and colleague died peacefully in her home on May 10th, 2024, surrounded by her family and friends in St Cloud France. The cause of death was incurable illness.

Growing up in San Francisco, Tilly said 'I am a true-hearted San Franciscan' 

She started interpreting at age three for her grandparents who only spoke Dutch. She later attended the University of California, Berkeley where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, then went on to get a diploma in Social Welfare Policy in Developing Countries at the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague, Netherlands, and took language courses at the University of Hawaii and the University of Geneva.

She started working as a professional interpreter and translator in 1963 at a journalism center in Strasbourg.  She traveled extensively and for many years with her husband, Philippe Gaillard, a writer and journalist focused on Africa. They were married for over 60 years, until his death in 2018.

She was an interpreter for over 25 years at the FIDH (International Federation for Human Rights), OSS (Sahara and Sahel Observatory), Crisis Action, and CIFOR (Center for International Forestry Research).  

Tilly was also a talented writer, penning many articles for the Democrats Abroad Military and Veterans Caucus.  During her time with Democrats Abroad starting in 2007 she was an active member of the Veterans Military Family Caucus France and Global, Seniors Caucus, and phone banker extraordinaire. 

She is survived by two daughters and two grandchildren.

Tilly was a true believer in good causes and helping people and volunteered extensively for causes she believed in. We will miss our dear friend Tilly De Hes Gaillard.