Pat Kane Obituary, Death – “The concept of Reston was that it should be a place where everyone can live, regardless of race, creed, or economic status, and it attracted resident pioneers with a keen sense of social justice,” according to the post. “It has been home to Patrick and his family for 46 years.”
Kane was the founder and chair of the Reston Board of Commerce (later renamed the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce) from 1982 to 1986. He was appointed Lord Fairfax by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in 2010 for his community achievements. “Pat was a guy who had more thoughts per square inch than anyone I have ever known,” Reston creator Robert E. Simon said. “He was a decent man.” I was delighted by his ingenuity and appreciated his sense of humor.”
Karen Cleveland, the chamber’s first executive director, recalls meeting Kane for the first time in the late 1980s. He was remembered then and now as a man with an eye patch, a handlebar mustache, and a “wonderful sense of humor,” Cleveland said. “We all adored Pat,” she explained. “Pat adored Reston. More than that, I believe he was Reston’s conscience in many ways. He never lost his passion for making Reston the best it could be.
Kane’s papers on Reston planning and development from 1967 to 2002 are housed in the library at George Mason University, where he was an adjunct professor. In 1966, Kane established his own planning firm, KRS Associates, in Reston. He founded The Corporation for Community Development, a coalition of organizations and individuals working on planning projects, in 1973.
Among the projects is A Future of Tysons Corner, created for TYTRAN; a proposal for the Town of Herndon’s downtown area; and an assessment of the Lake Anne in Reston’s reinvestment possibilities. In 2002, he was also named Best of Reston.
“Pat Kane is one of the smartest people I know,” Delegate Ken Plum stated. “He was always coming up with some brilliant new idea.” As a professional planner and longtime resident, he understood and liked Reston. He was intimately involved in the community’s life and a significant contributor to its development. He also had a great sense of humour.” Kane was diagnosed with lung cancer in November 2012.
His family stated that he has been taking chemotherapy and dealing with side effects since December. Kane earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame, where he met his wife of 50 years. Kane is survived by his wife, Susan, his six children, Leslie, Alicia, Brian, Christopher, Catherine, and Amanda, as well as his seven grandchildren, Grace, Sam, Lauren, Olivia, Dillon, Sydney, and Ryan.
