Obituary of Kevin Joseph Payne

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Kevin Payne (69), a beloved brother, husband, father, and grandfather. Kevin lived a very full life, filled with personal and professional accomplishments. 

 

Kevin was a highly respected and successful soccer industry leader, having founded D.C. United and served as its General Manager, President and CEO.  He was inducted into the US Soccer Hall of Fame in 2021. A native New Yorker who raised his children in Colorado, Connecticut and Washington DC, Kevin came to Charleston in 2015 to finish his career leading US Club Soccer, a youth soccer organization. He was an avid golfer and sports fan – with a particular love of the New York Rangers.

 

Kevin touched people in his life with his generosity, passion and deep sense of self. He had strong opinions on most things and they were well informed – he was an avid reader and a student of history with an incredible memory. 

 

Kevin was most at home with his family. The loves of his life were the three women who always kept him in orbit - his wife Pam and daughters Ashley and Rebecca. In recent years he became a grandfather to Lucas (10), Ian Paul (7), and Theo (1) stole the heart of their ‘Papa.’

 

Kevin leaves behind a legacy of kindness, love and laughter with his family and friends. In the US soccer community he leaves an example of hard work, excellence, and community leadership. Those that were fortunate to know him well will miss him dearly – he was one of a kind.

Services will be held at the Daniel Island Club Ballroom on Tuesday, January 3^rd from 3 to 6pm.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, and the US Soccer Foundation.

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