Former League to Save Lake Tahoe worker drowns in Central America

A South Shore resident and former employee of the League to Save Lake Tahoe died last week while on vacation in Central America.

Lily Galli, 27, was caught in a rip current and drowned in the Caribbean Sea near Bocas del Toro, Panama, on March 4, said Galli's former co-worker and friend, Catherine Cecchi.

A travel companion found the phone number of the League to Save Lake Tahoe listed on Galli's passport and called the conservation group last week to inform them of the accident, said league program coordinator Carl Young.

He described Galli as having a "magnetic personality."

Galli was remembered fondly by others as well.

"We've been talking to so many of her friends and colleagues," Cecchi said. "She left a very strong impression on everyone she met. She had this amazing, sort of contagious energy and love of life."

A native of Southern California, Galli began work at the league as an office manager in 2004 but became its outreach coordinator based on her outgoing nature.

"The league actually created a position based on Lily's personality," Cecchi said.

Galli coordinated a variety of events during her time with the league, including South Tahoe Earth Days and the 2007 Tahoe Forest Stewardship Day.

"She was a true environmental activist and a beautiful person inside and out," said Nikki Florio, executive director and founder of Tahoe Regional Environmental Education. "She was able to get a lot accomplished in the short time she was with the league."

Galli left the environmental organization in January and planned to travel to Central and South America for about six months with a housemate, Cecchi said.

A memorial service is planned for this weekend, though a location for the event has not been determined.

For information on the memorial, contact the League to Save Lake Tahoe at (530) 541-5388.


— Tribune Web Editor Jeff Munson contributed to this report.