Alexandria, VA
Kevin Beekman August 24, 2020
It is with great sorrow that we announce that Kevin Beekman, an Arlandria hero and force behind the Four Mile Run Conservancy and Farmer’s Market, lost his battle with amyloidosis on August 24. Kevin was part of the fabric of Arlandria. He helped found the Four Mile Run Conservancy and Farmer’s Market and was part of its heart and soul. You could always find him at the market, helping out the vendors and customers as the market grew. His loss touches all of us.
(Courtesy photo)
I knew Kevin mostly from the Four Mile Run Farmer’s Market. He was the driving force who had the vision to make the market a success. He worked tirelessly to bring vendors, musicians, and the community to the market. He was always positive, he brought that same spirit to everyone he came in contact with. It wasn’t a proper market if Kevin wasn’t part of it.
Per Mayor Justin Wilson: “I know what a wonderful husband he was to Nathalie and how immensely proud he was of Claire and Nora. It is so unfair that the three of them must move forward without Kevin. Kevin was so devoted to our City and more specifically Arlandria, where he lived. He was tireless in his labor and advocacy for his community and for those that lived in it. He essentially operated as an adjunct member of our City staff, creating a successful farmers market, designing parks and playgrounds, planting trees, raising money and so much more. His personal efforts yielded so many amazing accomplishments, but he inspired so many others to serve their community in countless ways. His quiet devotion to our community was infectious. In addition to his work in his neighborhood, Kevin served our City on the Traffic & Parking Board for numerous years, working to navigate complicated and controversial issues, with a focus on improving safety for all users of our roads.
I’m heartbroken to know they won’t have more time with him. We were all lucky to have the time that we did.”
Chris Hamilton, a coworker and friend of Kevin’s said, “I loved working with Kevin in Arlandria/WarwickVillage/Upper Potomac West/ /Del Ray and on various Democratic campaigns and City projects – back in the day before these places were all that popular. Kevin was ALWAYS there to help, always there with new ideas. No one loved our little community more. No one rooted for and nurtured our little corner of the world more. He made it fun and gave our work purpose and got so much done. He got in good trouble.”
(Courtesy photo)
We at the Zebra ask that all of you keep Kevin and his family in your hearts and prayers.
We will provide more information as it becomes available.
I was heart broken when I saw the news of his passing. My sincere condolences to Claire, Nora and Nathalie. I hope that he has inspired others to continue his legacy of working to make Arlandria a better place to life, work and play. We all loved the man that he was, kind, gentle, smart, and very caring. RIP Kevin.
When I first came up with the idea of bringing collegiate summer wooden bat baseball to Alexandria, Kevin reached out to me to help promote the cause, especially with my selection of Four Mile Run Park, near Arlandria, as the home field for the Aces to play. Kevin even gave the Aces some early coverage in his awesome Alexandria community-oriented website, ‘The Arlandrian’.
Every time I saw Kevin around Del Ray or Arlandria, he’d say “Let’s Go Aces!”, and sometimes he’d drop by Frank Mann Field to catch an inning or two of an Aces game, where when he left he’d say to me, “See you, soon, Pat! Go Aces!”
My sincerest thoughts and prayers go out to Kevin’s wife, Nathalie, and his daughters, Claire and Nora. They all need our collective love, which I know they’re receiving from all of us.
May God bless, Kevin, always.