Officials, Colleagues Remember Ron Kirby

Friends and colleagues of Alexandria resident Ronald Kirby mourned his death Tuesday after it was revealed he was the victim of a homicide in his Rosemont home.

The longtime transportation planning director for the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) was discovered unconscious by a relative around 12:30 p.m. Monday.

Police revealed Tuesday that Kirby was shot multiple times in the torso. An investigation into the homicide is ongoing.

Greater Greater Washington contributor Dan Malouff presented a 2013 Kirby Q&A with the Washington Post and a 2004 profile in Washingtonian as good explanations of the Australian’s work.

Colleagues and elected officials remembered Kirby, 69, for his dedication, expertise, kindness and an unmistakable accent:

Alexandria Councilman Tim Lovain

“I worked with him for four years on the Transportation Planning Board. He was totally, truly an extraordinary man with an encyclopedic knowledge of transportation. He also had a gracious way about him and an accent that never faded a bit. He sounded liked he was just off the boat from Australia.

“On the board, with all these people pulling different directions, he almost singlehandedly was the force pulling everyone together. We’re currently working on our priorities plan and so many of his ideas are in the there. … I just don’t know how TPB will function without him. I’ll miss him and I know a lot of other people will.”

Alexandria Councilwoman Del Pepper

“Ron was the director of TPB for 26 years and recently he was talking about retirement and he in no way was interested of retiring. … He was someone who was very brilliant and very kind, accent and all. He was very well respected. It really shows you how one person in a community can make a big difference across the region. And he was not elected.”

Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille (via WashingtonPost.com)

“He is a professional and it is a tremendous loss for COG and the metropolitan region because he is a transportation guru. His death and loss will be a huge hole to fill at COG and in the region.”

COG Executive Director Chuck Bean

“All of the officials and employees of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and the Transportation Planning Board are devastated by the loss of our colleague, Ron Kirby.

“Dr. Kirby, one of the region’s leading experts on transportation planning, was a key figure in all aspects of our work on regional planning and collaboration. He guided the work of the Transportation Planning Board for more than 26 years. His deep knowledge and wise counsel assisted local, state and national officials in reaching consensus on the major transportation issues over the years. 

“More importantly, he was a trusted colleague and a dear friend to all of us at the Council and his associates around the region.  We extend our deepest sympathy to his family at this difficult time.”

U.S. Rep. Jim Moran (D-8th)

“I am deeply saddened to learn of the loss of Ron Kirby. His behind the scenes work and sage advice saved Washington area commuters a lifetime of avoided congestion and traffic delays. He was both a visionary on what this region could become through smart growth and strategic transportation improvements, and an expert who gained the confidence of elected officials to make it happen.”