Kevin Paul McAward

January 22, 1953 – May 21, 2017

 

Little Brother, Kevin, Uncle Kevin, Kev. The youngest of eight children, Kevin evened out the count and brought symmetry to the family unit. He was an adorable child; doted on by most of his older siblings; tolerated by Dorothy and me as he tagged along wherever we went. He was the only one of us who had blue eyes and, as a kid, he had blond hair as well. He looked quite dashing when, as a four-year-old, he was decked out in his bright red University of Chicago blazer to be the mascot for the Bishop McDonnell H.S. basketball team.

Following in the footsteps of his siblings, Kevin attended St. Pascal Baylon Elementary school. When we moved to Cambria Heights, he finished up at Sacred Heart and then went to Christ the King H.S. He started college part time at Queens Borough Community while working at NY Telephone. Work suited him more than academics and after a few years he dropped out of Queens Borough. His career took him through the changes that occurred following the breakup of AT&T to what would finally become Verizon. He had various jobs within Verizon and in the end, he was a Fios installer. He was really excited about fiber optic technology. Working with it brought new life to a job that had become routine.

In his early thirties, Kevin took a year off and visited India. He picked up odd jobs to support himself while he traveled the country. His vacations took him to Hawaii, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, and the Patagonia region. He loved experiencing different cultures while discussing social and political issues with local people. Having lived in Manhattan for most of his adult life, he had cultivated friends from many parts of the world. His political views were informed not only by his reading but by conversations with those directly affected by the decisions of national and international leaders. He was passionate about politics. He was always well-informed. He was deeply concerned about the effects that high level decisions would have on the poor and the environment.

Kevin’s family extended well beyond his biological family. He had been adopted into more families than anyone else I know. His friends’ children were like his own nieces and nephews. The only time he would miss one of their occasions would be if it conflicted with a McAward event. He kept the pictures that his family and friends sent at Christmas. As I went through the bin, I could see the growth of so many children he cared about, most of whom have their own children now. He was especially close to Christian Gaffney who was his next-door neighbor from toddlerhood through adulthood. Christian has been living and working in Germany the past few years. I know Kevin really missed him. They had a very special relationship and had spent a lot of time together.

Almost everyone speaks of Kevin’s generosity and thoughtfulness. If you needed help, Kevin was there. Moving day, home repairs, painting, yard work. If he was available, he’d be there. When Sarah had ankle surgery, Kevin stayed for almost a week to help. When I was away, Kevin would come and stay with my dog. When Jeanine needed help with her business, Uncle K was glad to make overnight deliveries. I’m sure that most people here today have a story about how Kevin pitched in when needed. In his East Village neighborhood, he was known as a “soft touch”. He was always good for a 20.

When Sarah and I went to pick up his mail, everyone we met expressed real sorrow that Kevin had died. One after another, people spoke of his kindness, compassion, and thoughtfulness. They said things like “What a wonderful man; such a beautiful soul; what a kind heart.” We were very touched to know that Kevin had had such a positive impact on so many people.

He was a true and loyal friend and this went both ways. Kevin had many long-term friendships. Two very close friends since first grade, others from elementary and high school. Friends from work or friends of friends with whom Kevin had stayed in close touch. Even when separated by miles, sometimes hundreds, sometimes thousands, Kevin kept in touch.

The last few months of his life were not easy for Kevin. In addition to a crippling depression that had robbed him of his appetite, he had an abdominal aortic aneurism that required urgent surgery. After an extensive eight-hour procedure, he was treated in ICU for ten days. As sick as he was, none of us expected that his heart would give out. There is one thing that brings us a great deal of comfort. The last words Kevin heard from each of his siblings and many of his friends were “I love you Kev, I’ll see you soon.” The last words we heard from Kevin were “I love you, too.”

Kevin had so many qualities that we’ll miss. His sense of humor, his craziness, his easy laugh, his quirkiness, his teasing, his loyalty, his company, his friendship, his hugs, his listening, his advice, his phone calls, his computer questions, but most of all, we’ll miss his presence and his love. For all of us let me say “We love you Kev. We’ll see you whenever.”

And Kevin, know that there will always be a place in my heart that says, “Little Brother”.