The Board of Directors and staff of Concern Worldwide U.S. deeply mourn the passing of Kevin M. Kearney, a passionate global ambassador and stalwart member of the Board since 2001.

Kevin was the embodiment of Concern’s ethos: “Do as much as you can for as many as you can, as well as you can, for as long as you can.” His tireless efforts as a leader, fundraiser, and representative of the organization in some of the world’s poorest communities literally changed tens of thousands of lives, and leave a legacy that will continue to have lasting impact for many years to come.

He tirelessly leveraged his position as one of New York City’s most prominent attorneys for religious and social impact institutions to generate support for Concern’s work, which today is reaching nearly seven million people in 27 countries.

Kevin was the embodiment of Concern’s ethos: “Do as much as you can for as many as you can, as well as you can, for as long as you can.”

He enthusiastically traveled to several of Concern’s countries of operation, often to the poorest and hardest to reach communities, to meet partners and beneficiaries firsthand to measure Concern’s impact and hear the needs of each community. These efforts included travel to Ethiopia, Tanzania, Mozambique, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Niger, Uganda, Haiti, Pakistan and most recently, to Kenya in the fall of 2014.

On Kevin’s passing, Concern Worldwide U.S. CEO Joseph M. Cahalan said, “Kevin’s energy, leadership, stewardship, and sheer humanity helped propel Concern Worldwide U.S. to unprecedented growth, which has included a doubling of both staff and income in the last seven years. This has meant vastly increased support of our emergency relief and long-term development programs. His contributions were immeasurably significant, but he worked quietly and humbly, just as easily suiting up for our annual Central Park Run or riding in the back of a Land Cruiser across some of Africa’s toughest terrain as persuading affluent colleagues and contacts to dig deep for a corporate event. His loss leaves a hole that will never be filled, but his legacy guarantees that his support of our work will endure for a very long time.”

He enthusiastically traveled to several of Concern’s countries of operation, often to the poorest and hardest to reach communities, to meet partners and beneficiaries firsthand to measure Concern’s impact and hear the needs of each community.

Our wishes are also extended on behalf of our former Executive Director Siobhan Walsh, Concern Worldwide CEO Dominic MacSorley, and a global team of nearly 3,000 humanitarians. Our sincerest condolences go to his wife Mary Beth, daughters Christine and Elisa, son Sean, brothers John and James, and grandchild Marion, as well as his vast network of friends throughout New York and around the world.

We will remember Kevin’s joy and compassion and imagine a generous farewell from him in the words of the great Irish ballad, The Parting Glass:

“Oh all the comrades that e’er I’ve had/ Are sorry for my going away/ And all the sweethearts that e’er I’ve had/ Would wish me one more day to stay/ But since it falls unto my lot/ That I should rise and you should not/ I’ll gently rise and softly call/ Good night and joy be with you all.”