The Arts Council of Fairfax County is mourning the passing of its chairman, R. Dennis McArver.
McArver, a Vienna resident, legal professional and civic arts activist, died Sept. 14. He was born in 1936.
"We have lost a dear friend and a strong leader," said Linda S. Sullivan, president and CEO of the Arts Council. "Dennis embraced his role as chairman of the Board with such enthusiasm and vigor and was a tireless advocate for the council and all the arts in Fairfax County," Sullivan continued.
McArver joined the board of directors of the Arts Council in 2009. On July 1, 2013 McArver succeeded Gerald L. Gordon, Ph.D, president and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, as the new chairman for the Arts Council.
"Dennis McArver was a tireless and dedicated supporter of the arts for many years and in many capacities. I had the honor of serving with Dennis on both the board of the Arts Council of Fairfax County and the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra. He was never one to sit back. The arts and the community have lost a strong advocate and a committed leader," said Gerald L. Gordon, Ph.D, president and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority.
"The Fairfax community has lost a very dedicated and thoughtful leader in Dennis McArver," Joe Richey, vice chairman of the Arts Council Board of Directors said. "He was a tremendous professional and friend to many in the community. Dennis was a champion of the arts in Fairfax county and will be missed by all who knew him."
McArver was a long-time partner with McGuire Woods LLP in Tysons. McArver, a specialist in real estate law, forged a reputation for handling multi party, complex transactions. He served in a number of management positions, ranging from department chairman to managing partner of the firm. McArver had been a continuing legal education lecturer in Virginia and across the country on a variety of law firm management issues. His prior arts organization experience included chairing the board of directors at Wolf Trap, the Fairfax Symphony, as well as serving on boards of the Baltimore Symphony and the Arts at Mason Partnership.
McArver is survived by his wife Emmy McArver, three children Rob McArver, Laura Timberlake and Susan Dunton, and five grandchildren.
The McArver family has asked, that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations should be made to the Arts Council of Fairfax County. Donations can also be mailed to:
Arts Council of Fairfax County,
"In Memoriam Dennis McArver"
10604 Judicial Drive
Fairfax, VA 22030