Fairfax Co. Board Honors Memory Of Former Sully Supervisor Michael Frey

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Fairfax County Board of Supervisors began Tuesday's meeting with tributes to former Sully District Supervisor Michael Frey, who died on Monday.

"We know about all that Mike did on this board, but Mike had a love of some things that many of us on this dais also have a love for, first a love for the county," said Chairman Jeffrey McKay (D-At- Large) "When he finished his 37 years, he never stopped serving this county, and he never stopped serving this county in so many ways."

In addition to being elected the Sully District's first supervisor in 1992, Frey was a youth sports coach for the Southwest Youth Association and chaired the Dulles Suburban Advisory Group. He also served on both the Historic Centreville Society and the Fairfax County Historical Society.

"One of the more memorable things is you never heard anybody say anything bad about Michael Frey," said Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield). "He was simply always looking to do good. He loved local service, and it was a passion of his."

A Pennsylvania native, Frey moved to Washington, D.C. after graduating high school, with the aim of going into politics, he said in a 2021 interview. He attended American University though the school's co-op work study program and got a job with then Fairfax County Board Chair Jack Herrity (R), father of Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield).

After helping the chairman with his reelection campaign in 1978, Frey was asked to stay on and he transferred to George Mason University in Fairfax.

"I knew within six months to a year of starting work for Jack that I loved Fairfax," he said. "It was a much smaller county. The budget was much smaller. Issues were different, but even with close to half a million people, there was a small town atmosphere, and people remembered their history."

When Elaine McConnell (R) was elected in the mid-'80s as the new Springfield District supervisor, Frey worked as her chief of staff.

Although not from an overly political family, Frey got an early interest in politics, admitting in 2021 that he was the only student in the senior class at his high school who watched the Watergate hearings on TV.

"It just was something about it that attracted me," he said. "Of course, coming to work for the chairman of the board and getting involved in local government, I really grew disenchanted with the Hill. I spent some time on the Hill. In local government, you get to do things. You can actually help people."

After Frey announced his retirement in 2015, former Sully District school board member Kathy Smith was elected to be his successor.

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"We had a great relationship, but his service to the community and what he has done for this community, and ensuring that there were ball fields for kids," Smith said, at Tuesday's meeting. "After he left the board, I asked him to serve as chair of our Dulles Suburban Task Force for the comprehensive plan. He said 'Yes' right away. But it's the Sully Historic Site. It's his involvement with animals. He used to have Great Danes, and then he decided to start adopting animals that nobody else would adopt."

In a post on Facebook, Supervisor Herrity described Frey as a good friend and mentor.

"Michael had a passion for animals, and his advocacy was second to none and continued until he passed," Supervisor Herrity said. "I was honored to ask the board to name the animal shelter after him in 2016. He will be sorely missed by the residents of Fairfax County and by me."

Fairfax County will compile and produce a tribute video for Frey to be shown on Channel 16 and shared with the community, according to McKay.

As of Wednesday morning, no information had been released concerning the cause of Frey's death. Although Supervisor Herrity said plans were being made to honor the former supervisor's memory, no other details were available.