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In Memoriam
Patrick Kane, one of the founding residents of Reston and a community planner who was instrumental
in the development of Reston, died after battling lung cancer on Tuesday, his 77th birthday. Pat,
was a founder, advocate and a long standing board member of Gabriel Homes, a private nonprofit
organization promoting independence through residential placement, training and community integration
for adults
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with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Many of their homes are located in the Reston area, a
place near and dear to Pat's heart.
Pat read about Reston in 1966 and was intrigued by the new, inclusive community. "The concept of
Reston was that it should be a place where everyone can live, regardless of race, creed, economic
status, and it attracted resident pioneers with a keen sense of social justice," the post reads.
"It has been home to Patrick and his family for 46 years."
Kane was the founding president of the Reston Board of Commerce (later renamed the
Greater Reston
Chamber of Commerce) and chair of the Chamber from 1982-86. He was chosen as Lord Fairfax by the
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in 2010 for his contributions to the community.
"Pat was a guy who had more thoughts per square inch than anyone I have ever known," said Reston
founder Robert E. Simon. "He was a good man. I enjoyed his sense of humor and was impressed by his
imagination."
Karen Cleveland, the chamber's first executive director, recalls first meeting Kane in the late 1980s.
He was memorable then - as well as more recently - as a man with an eye patch, a handlebar mustache
and a "wonderful sense of humor," Cleveland said. "We all adored Pat," she said. "Pat so loved Reston.
Even more than that, I feel like he was the conscience of Reston in many ways. He never lost his
enthusiasm and desire to make Reston the best it can be.
Kane's papers about the planning and development of Reston from 1967-2002 are part of the library at
George Mason University, where Kane was an adjunct professor.
Kane founded his own planning firm, KRS Associates, in Reston in 1966. In 1973, he formed The
Corporation for Community Development, which was a consortium of firms and individuals working
on planning projects. Among some of the projects: A Future of Tysons Corner, prepared for TYTRAN;
a plan for the downtown area of the Town of Herndon; and an assessment of the reinvestment potential
of the Lake Anne in Reston. He was also Named Best of Reston in 2002.
"There was something inside Pat that could not resist the needs of others. We call this 'kindness',
which is the full blossoming of all the human virtues." said Fr. Bob Cilinski, Pastor at All Saints
Catholic Church and President of Gabriel Homes. "His care and compassion became a passion for Gabriel
Homes so that those 'differently abled' could be fully integrated into the life of the community
and the church. May Pat now hear the words of the Savior, 'Well done good and faithful servant'.
The family, in honor of Pat's great, long standing work at Gabriel Homes asks that in
lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Gabriel Homes, Inc. It is not only an organization
that Patrick helped found but one that has been near and dear to the family's hearts for many years.
The organization named their first home in Pat's honor. To support Gabriel Homes,
click here.
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