Peter Moran Gallagher

Peter Moran Gallagher Sr., 70, of Oakton, Virginia, passed away peacefully on June 5, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family after a courageous battle with cancer. Born on January 31, 1956, in Ridgewood, New Jersey, Peter lived a life defined by generosity, adventure, and an unwavering dedication to the people he loved.

The fifth of seven children born to Margaret Mary and Joseph Richard Gallagher, Peter’s industrious spirit emerged early. As a boy, he delivered newspapers and later worked for the superintendent of an apartment complex.

After he graduated high school, he co-founded G&S Painting with his good friend Davey Sproul, growing it into a successful Ridgewood institution.

Peter’s intellectual curiosity led him to Boston College, where he earned degrees in economics and philosophy and, most importantly, met his wife of 43 years, Dana.

Peter’s career was a testament to his commitment to making the world a better place. He served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Senegal (1979–81), digging wells to ensure long-term water security in rural villages. This experience ignited a lifelong passion for international development. Upon moving back to the U.S., he began working as a Food Program Specialist for USDA’s Food and Nutrition Services (FNS), most notably managing the “free cheese” program in New England and New York.

While still working part-time for FNS, Peter earned his master’s degree in public administration from the Harvard Kennedy School in 1985. He then returned to Dakar, Senegal, this time as a newlywed, with Dana, as a director for Catholic Relief Services.

In 1997, he founded Development InfoStructure (DevIS), pioneering open-source software collaborative models in government, primarily for the U.S. Agency for International Development. His professional journey continued with leadership roles at Unisys and Amazon Web Services, where he designed the public sector Cloud Innovation Center to facilitate shared digital innovation. Peter’s career led him around the world, from Africa, to India, Asia, Australia, Central America and the Middle East.

He was a natural athlete and a “wide open” enthusiast of life. An expert snow skier, he recruited family and friends and visited over 30 resorts across the U.S. and skied internationally in Japan, Canada, and Italy.  He also loved basketball: watching LeBron James, playing in a local league for almost 20 years and coaching his children’s teams. In recent years, he discovered a love for long-distance biking and took pride in getting into the “best shape of his life”.

A true craftsman, Peter had an intuitive sense of how to fix anything, most recently installing beautiful wallpaper in the bathroom and new lights in the garage. He found great joy in music – particularly classic rock, like The Grateful Dead or Bob Dylan, and reggae – and spent many summer nights at Wolf Trap with a glass of bubbly or a brew.

Peter brought humor and joy to every room he entered. He was kind, accepting and deeply honest. He saw the best in everyone and had a gift for making others feel valued. In addition to his other achievements, Peter remained deeply grounded in service, volunteering at Christ House in D.C. and supporting the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Above all, Peter cherished his family. Entertaining relatives and friends in his backyard was one of his favorite pastimes. He was a fun dad who prioritized being present for his children’s every milestone. He was a devoted husband, loyal sibling and steadfast friend.

He is predeceased by his parents and his son, Peter Jr. He is survived by his beloved wife, Dana Gallagher; his daughter, Maeve Gallagher; six siblings, Maribeth Pragid (Peter), Carole Ann Steen (Charlie), Margaret Braley (the late George), Joseph Gallagher (Janet), Gregory Gallagher and Christopher Gallagher (Patti); and a large circle of in-laws, nieces, nephews, and friends. Peter’s faith was a quiet anchor throughout his life. His family finds comfort in knowing he is now at peace, reunited with his son in God’s care.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, June 25, at Money & King Funeral Home, Vienna, Va., at 11 a.m. A Celebration of Life will follow from 12:30-3 p.m. at the Westwood Country Club (800 Maple Ave E, Vienna, VA 22180). In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to NAMI or Catholic Relief Services.