Kevin Michael Ely of Arlington, Virginia, passed away unexpectedly of an apparent heart attack June 18, 2022. He was 48 years old.

Kevin was born Jan. 20, 1974, the son of Michael and Judith Ely, and spent the majority his childhood in Charlottesville, Virginia. A gifted athlete, he was an avid basketball and soccer player while growing up, eventually discovering his favorite sport, lacrosse.

In 1997, Kevin earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia, where he played attack as an all-conference varsity lacrosse player. To this day, he still holds the record for most goals scored in a single game. Years later, he would give back to his alma mater, when he was honored to join the board of the University of Mary Washington Foundation.

It was at college that he had the good fortune to meet a girl with “this really great smile,” Rebecca Harrison, who later became his beloved wife when they married in 1999. Their adventures took them to graduate school in Boston where they celebrated the arrival of their oldest son, Sean, 14, then to Baltimore, then eventually to Arlington, Virginia, where they celebrated the arrival of their second son, Miles, 12.

Professionally, Kevin began his career at Booz | Allen | Hamilton. He then shifted his focus to investing at Cambridge Associates in 1999. After earning his master’s in business administration from the Questrom School of Business at Boston University with honors, he worked in corporate finance consulting for Duff & Phelps and for Wachovia Capital Markets. He successfully earned the incredibly challenging professional designation of Chartered Financial Analyst. He returned to manager research at Cambridge Associates in 2008, eventually rising to the role of managing director where he was co-head of the research team.

Following his collegiate lacrosse career, Kevin continued to use his skills to inspire and teach the next generation as a coach for multiple lacrosse leagues and clubs, including for his sons and their friends. His skills, work ethic and passion for the game (not to mention his legendary talent as a master of stringing lacrosse sticks) touched countless kids and their parents.

Kevin is survived by his beloved wife, Rebecca; sons Sean and Miles; parents Michael and Judith Ely; sister Michelle Ely and grandmother Rose Robbins.

A Funeral Service will be held for Kevin July 1 at St. James Catholic Church in Falls Church, Virginia, at 1 p.m. 905 Park Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, friends have established a GoFundMe account to provide support to the family and to causes dear to Kevin.

Kevin will always be remembered for his generous, reassuring spirit; his passion for lacrosse and coaching; his steady, calm nature; his sharp business acumen; his love of good music, the UNC Tarheels, and the Red Sox; his determination to always make the best of everything; his talents behind the grill; his warm laugh; and most of all, his dedication as a husband and father and his love of his family and friends.

Submitted by Marjorie Durrer Frazier.