Obituary: Robert ‘Bob’ Ray Dively

Retired Fairfax County attorney Robert “Bob” Ray Dively died July 11. He was 64.

Mr. Dively was born in Bellwood, Pennsylvania on March 5, 1958. When he was six months old, his family moved to Virginia, making a home in Spring eld. He graduated from Annandale High School in 1976, where he served as editor of the high school newspaper, was an Eagle Scout and an avid cross-country runner.

Following high school, Mr. Dively attended the University of Virginia, earning a de- gree in political and social thought with high distinction in 1980, studying in a directed studies program under Professor Larry Sabato, and earning his law degree in 1983.

Mr. Dively served as law school representative for the U.Va. Honor System and pres- ident of the Je erson Literary and Debating Society. At U.Va., he displayed his lifelong love of reading and intellectual discourse, especially philosophy, history, religion and political thought, always wielding wit, wisdom and good nature notwithstanding and welcoming friends with alternative views.

Upon graduation from law school, Mr. Dively joined his father at Dively & Thompson in Tysons Corner, practicing real estate, family and trusts and estates law until being appointed in 1999 an assistant attorney general for Virginia by then-Attorney General Mark Earley. Upon departing the Virginia Attorney General’s o ce in 2000, Mr. Dively served for six years on the Fairfax County Board of Zoning and until retirement prac- ticed eminent domain law, including proudly representing the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Throughout his years as a lawyer, Mr. Dively was actively involved in the Fairfax County community, serving three terms on the Fairfax County Bond Committee, two terms on the Superintendent’s Community Advisory Committee, as coordinator of the Sully Community Coalition, and was appointed by then-Gov. Jim Gilmore to serve on the State Executive Council for At-Risk Youth and Families. For his many community services to the Sully District Community, the Fairfax Board of Supervisors named him “Lord Fairfax” in 2001.

Mr. Dively lived in Fairfax County until his retirement in 2020. Mr. Dively lived life to its fullest and was devoted to his family. He was happily mar- ried to his wife Kathy for 36 years, with whom he shared travel adventures, abundant and constant laughs, and several wonderful rescue dogs. He ran marathons starting at age 39 and enjoyed being a scout leader for Troop 577 in Clifton.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Dively is survived by his children, Kristy, Jackie, Rob and Tommy; his grandchildren, Ava, Carter, Elijah, Isabella and Jade; his sister, Elizabeth; and his nieces, So a and Olivia.

In lieu of owers, the family requests that donations, if any, be made to Lakeside An- imal Rescue, c/o Robin Nichols and Shannon Jones, P.O. Box 571, Holly Hill, S.C. 29059 or to the animal rescue organization of your choosing.