John Thomas McGalliard

John “Tom” McGalliard II, Nurse Manager of Palomar Medical Center and Pomerado Hospital Interventional and Cardiac Catherization Department died March 19 at Palomar Medical Center, at age 54, from a traumatic brain injury.

Tom was a loving husband, father, son and brother who is survived by his wife- Yoli McGalliard, children- Ceci and Marc McGalliard, parents- Tom McGalliard Sr. and Connie Black, siblings Craig and Todd McGalliard and Cheryl Brodmann, along with numerous nephews, nieces, great grand nephews and great grandnieces.

Tom was a 24 year veteran, having served both in the US Army and Navy, retiring in 2008 as a Naval Commander. He was a member of the historic Chatham Artillery, in his home town of Savannah, Georgia. As a military nurse he served as an Army and Naval critical care nurse. He was deployed and participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 as a Naval FRSS team member. As a civilian nurse, for 25 years in San Diego, he worked as a critical care, catherization and vascular access nurse at UCSD Hillcrest, Scripps La Jolla, Scripps Encinitas and Palomar Medical Center.

Besides his love to country, Tom had a love for God and service to others. He was an active parishioner at St. Mark’s Catholic Church in San Marcos, where he was a lecturer and Knight of Columbus. Through his participation in the K of C he served the community through numerous service activities. His dedication to the K of C provided him the opportunity to reach the level of a Fourth Degree Knight. Tom also served and helped lead numerous service organizations. One which was dear to his heart was BSA (Boy Scouts of America). As a scouter, he was involved for over 12 years from Cub Scout Den Leader to Boy Scout Assistant Scout Master. During that time he was troop advancement chair, committee member, merit badge counselor and CPR/First Aid instructor. He will be sorely missed by family, friends, colleagues and all who knew him.

Tom’s Funeral Mass will take place on April 19th, 12 noon, at St. Mark’s Catholic Church in San Marcos. A Celebration of Life will follow at the church’s Healy Hall. Tom’s cremated remains will be taken to Savanah, Georgia for a family service and he will then be buried with full military honors at the National Cemetery in South Carolina this summer.

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