Obituary of Martin James Kirwan

Martin J. Kirwan, 55, passed away on August 23, 2015 in Reston, Virginia. He was born on September 28, 1959 in the Bronx, NY to James Thomas Kirwan and Barbara Ann (Burns) Kirwan. The family moved to Fairfax, Virginia in 1971. Martin graduated from Fairfax High School in 1976. After high school he enlisted in the Army as a Lance missile crewman. He later attended Northern Virginia Community College and Marymount College in Arlington, VA where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Fitness Management in 1999. Martin pursued a multitude of careers after leaving the Army to include managing his own painting and roofing company, Martin's Painting Plus; orthotic specialist at Walter Reed Medical Center; membership salesman at Washington Sports Club in Leesburg, VA; and technical recruiter at TEKsystems in Reston, VA. He found his true calling after attending the Career Switcher program of Dominion University and obtained his teaching certificate for Physical Education. Martin taught Physical Education for grades one through five at both Sanders Corner Elementary School in Ashburn, VA and Forest Grove Elementary School in Sterling, VA. Martin enjoyed life to its fullest. He loved gardening, all sports, traveling, and home improvement projects. Martin was preceded in death by both his parents. He is survived by his wife, Mary Jo (Getsy) Kirwan and daughter, Barbara Ann Kirwan of Herndon, VA; sister, Donna Lynn Kirwan Dotson and her husband, Randy Dotson of Ashburn, VA; brother James Kirwan of Reston, VA; half-brother Daniel Miller of Cherry Hill, NJ and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held at the Adams-Green Funeral Home, 721 Elden Street, Herndon, Virginia on Thursday, August 27 from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm. The funeral service will be held at St. Joseph's Catholic Church of Herndon, 750 Peachtree Street, Herndon at 11:00 am on August 28. Burial will be at the Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery in Poughkeepsie, NY, Monday, August 31, 2015 at 12 noon with final viewing from 10:30 am until 11:30 am at McHoul Funeral Home, 895 Route 82, Hopewell Jct, NY 12533. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to a scholarship that will be established in Martin's name for students pursuing a degree related to cancer research.