Community Corner

Wake for Former Brooks Publisher Kevin Lally on Wednesday

The following obituary was submitted by Magner Funeral Home in Norwalk.

Kevin J. Lally died on Friday, June 25, at his Westport home. He was 53.

Born on Dec. 7, 1956, a son of the late Harry and Gail Lally, he was a resident of Westport for 35 years. He graduated from Skidmore College in 1979 with a degree in art and business and attended a graduate accounting and business program at Fairfield University. He was a 1974 graduate of Staples High School in Westport.

Mr. Lally lived and worked in Westport for most of his life but, moreover, his name was synonymous with Fairfield County. His philanthropic spirit was integral in helping sustain the good works of numerous charities and nonprofit organizations.

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He spent the majority of his career in the newspaper publishing business. Under the tutelage of B.V. Brooks and his father, Harry Lally, Mr. Lally was instrumental in building Brooks Community Newspapers into a successful company that published six weekly newspapers and several monthly newspapers and magazines. He began working for Brooks when he was a teenager, and gradually rose up the ranks to publisher and president.

During his 35-plus years at Brooks Community Newspapers, he saw the group of weeklies and twice-weeklies – Westport News, Darien News-Review, Fairfield Citizen-News, Norwalk Citizen-News, Greenwich Citizen and New Canaan News-Review – gain widespread recognition and readership and garner numerous national and industry awards. Mr. Lally established the Brooks Community Newspapers grants program for nonprofit organizations throughout Fairfield County. With the grants program, scores of nonprofits were given greater visibility and consequently were able to raise more funds for their causes.

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He also was community liaison for the Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts in Westport. He served on the governing committee of the Levitt as well as the building committee for a new pavilion.

He served on several professional and civic organizations. He was past president of the Darien Chamber of Commerce and past chairman of the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce and the Westport Chamber of Commerce. He was director emeritus of Elderhouse; former member of the boards of directors of the Fairfield County Community Foundation, the Mid-Fairfield County Child Guidance Center and the Westport Country Playhouse; past president of the New England Press Association; and ex-officio member of the Westport-Weston United Way. He also was chairman of Connecticut admissions for Skidmore College.

He was a recipient of the Faces of Achievement Award from the Westport Weston Family Y.

An avid tennis player, he was a member of the Shore and Country Club of Norwalk.

Most recently, he worked in sales and in consulting.

He is survived by his children, Meghan Campbell Lally and Trevor John Lally of Westport; his former wife, Nancy Lally of Westport; his brothers, Brian Lally of California and Steven Lally of Maine; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.

Friends may greet the family from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 30, at the Magner Funeral Home, 12 Mott Ave., Norwalk. A private family burial is planned.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Trevor Lally Providence College Fund, c/o Attorney Michael Laux, trustee, 66 Hillandale Road, Westport CT 06880.

 


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