Simon John McKeown

Simon J. McKeown died on Sunday morning, December 1, 2024 at home in Reston VA, with his wife and darling, Anna Kristen Uhler-McKeown by his side. While he was being treated for cancer, his death came unexpectedly.

Simon had a natural curiosity, and a demonstrable insight into people, business and organizations. Those attributes served him well as a CEO and trusted strategy advisor for many start ups, for-profits, and nonprofit businesses in Australia, UK, Canada, MENA, and the US. His work spanned across multiple sectors, including financial services, insurance, property development, real estate, marketing, and community development. Most recently, Simon was a driving force behind ensuring the continuity of a unique public utility that seasonally supplies chilled water to cool homes and businesses in the original village of Reston VA, a planned community founded in 1964, which became his home.

He was born in London Borough of Bromley, a son of the late John Oliver McKeown and the late Jane Sarah Austen, formerly Gwynith Rose Phelps McKeown. As a young child he had a brief stint in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada while his parents were teaching abroad. Simon went (on occasion) to St Olave’s grammar school in London and Cray Valley Technical School. After working in London, he decided to move at age 18 to Australia, where he then lived and worked for 30 years. He later received an MBA from the University of Bradford (UK) and an Inner MBA focused on conscious leadership. He was certified by the College of Executive Coaching as a professional coach, and by the ADR Group London as an accredited mediator and in alternative dispute resolution. He was a keen Chelsea Football Club supporter. After meeting on a nonprofit board in Pennsylvania, Simon and Kristen married in England and lived there for five years, primarily in Oxford, which formed part of their adventures together over nearly 20 years.

In addition to his wife and best friend, Kris, he is survived by his son, Trent McKeown and his children of Perth, Australia, and his daughter, Ruby McKeown of Tucson AZ and York PA, both of whom he loved deeply. He is dearly missed by his daily espresso and milk bone companion, Tashi. He is also survived by his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Susan and John C. Uhler of York PA, sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Gretchen and Keith Scott of Bethesda MD and their children Trey and Cameron, as well as a brother, Mark McKeown of Phnom Penh.

A celebration of life service will be posted at a later date. Simon was passionate about human rights, equality, and civic engagement and debate. In lieu of flowers, donations to a charity meaningful to you and his memory or to Reston Museum are welcome. His family continues to appreciate the warmth of words from friends and colleagues who knew Simon.