Fairfax County government officials and other civic leaders are paying tribute to former Sully District Supervisor Michael Frey, who died Feb. 16.
“We’re all in shock” at the unanticipated passing of the former supervisor, Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said at the body’s Feb. 17 meeting, observing that Frey “left us far too soon, with so much more to give.”
Frey, a Republican, served on the Board of Supervisors from 1992-2015 as the first supervisor of the Sully District in western Fairfax.
The district was created to accommodate significant growth in the western part of the county during the 1980s and 1990s, becoming the county’s ninth magisterial district.
Frey won mostly easy victories in his six runs for district supervisor before announcing in January 2015 that he would not stand for reelection that November.
His successor as Sully supervisor, Kathy Smith, said his death was difficult to accept.
“We lost a really good guy — it makes me really sad,” she said.
Smith, a Democrat, served on the Fairfax County School Board for the latter part of Frey’s tenure as supervisor.
Despite adhering to differing political parties, “we had a great relationship,” she said, praising her predecessor’s bipartisan approach to local governance.
Others agreed.
“You never heard anybody say anything bad about Michael Frey,” Springfield Supervisor Pat Herrity added. “He loved local service. It was a passion of his.”
Herrity said he got to know Frey in the 1970s, when the latter was an intern working for Herrity’s father, then-Board Chair Jack Herrity.
“We hit the campaign trail and had a lot of fun back in the good old days,” Pat Herrity recalled.
From that internship experience, Frey would serve in various staff positions, culminating as chief of staff for Pat Herrity’s predecessor, Springfield District Supervisor Elaine McConnell.
Frey’s tenure in elected office was only a portion of his involvement in civic life. McKay noted that Frey spent 37 total years in local government, augmented by further efforts on a variety of community issues up until the end of his life.
“He never stopped serving the county in so many ways,” McKay said, recalling that Frey “was as vibrant and active as always” when they met just a few weeks ago.
Smith was among those noting Frey’s love for, and attention to, pets — especially those that had a hard time finding homes.
“He decided to start adopting animals nobody else would adopt,” she said.
For his longstanding efforts, the county named its main animal shelter on West Ox Road after Frey in 2017.
The animal shelter paid tribute to Frey’s service, including his adoption of 13 animals from Fairfax County Animal Services, on its Facebook page. Among those sharing memories was former Board of Supervisors Chair Sharon Bulova.
“Michael was a wonderful human being,” she wrote. “He was a great supervisor and fantastic advocate.”
Jay Pull wrote that Frey’s advocacy for animals should serve as “a good example for other humans.”
“We are all better because he lived a life very well-lived,” added Debra Bailiff Cantwell.
Frey also was praised for his efforts to develop the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles and bring the World Police & Fire Games to Fairfax County in 2015, part of his legacy of support for the county’s public safety personnel.
“In good times and bad, he was a staunch defender of the police department,” Herrity said.
Perhaps out of necessity, Frey also became an expert on land use and transportation issues in his fast-growing district, which incorporated areas including portions of Chantilly, Centreville, Dulles and Herndon. Among the projects to take shape during his time on the board was Route 28’s transformation into a major regional thoroughfare.
He was also passionate about his alma mater, George Mason University.
Many of the comments from supervisors at the Feb. 17 meeting touched on Frey’s personal touch.
Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn recalled his days as a 20-year-old county intern, interacting with county officials like Frey. Others might have passed by a young intern without a word, but not Frey.
“He was nice to me. He was kind. He would talk to you,” Alcorn said.
Alcorn also joked that Frey may have been “the kindest Philadelphia Phillies fan” out there.
McKay, who also made a joking reference to Frey’s passion for the Phillies, said Frey lived life to the fullest.
“I can’t think of a time that I had a conversation with him when there wasn’t heavy laughter,” McKay said. “Mike really enjoyed life.”
A number of supervisors noted how several key county figures have passed away over the past 18 months, including Rep. Gerald Connolly (himself a former county supervisor), former Mount Vernon District Supervisor Gerald Hyland and former Hunter Mill Supervisor Catherine Hudgins.
Frey was a native of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, living there until he moved to the D.C. area in 1978. His survivors include a sister, Alana Remley, and a host of nephews, nieces and extended family members.
“Michael loved the life he built in Virginia, and his coworkers, friends and constituents were all part of his family,” the county government noted in an obituary.
Information on a memorial service will be released later. McKay said the county’s cable channel — Channel 16 — will compile a retrospective on Frey’s service, as it has done for other supervisors and civic titans after their deaths.
Memorial donations in Frey’s honor can be made to Friends of the Fairfax County Animal Shelter.
