Remembering a Longtime Local News Advocate
By • March 4, 2026 0 562
Davis Kennedy, a dedicated journalist and steady guiding hand at Gazette Newspapers, passed away on Christmas Day 2025 surrounded by family and friends, leaving behind a legacy of integrity, curiosity and deep commitment to community storytelling. He was a longtime advocate for local news and believed wholeheartedly in it.
He devoted much of his adult life to editing and publishing community newspapers. Some of his papers included the Georgetown Current, Alexandria Port Packet, Gaithersburg Gazette and the Northwest Current. He spent countless hours at community meetings and events and worked tirelessly to provide balanced and apolitical news.
Over the course of his career with Gazette Newspapers, Kennedy earned a reputation as both a thoughtful leader and a generous mentor. He understood that the heart of journalism lies not only in headlines, but in the everyday stories that reflect a community’s triumphs, challenges, and shared experiences. Whether covering town council meetings, local schools, neighborhood businesses, or civic initiatives, he approached each story with fairness and care.
Davis Kennedy. Courtesy Altogetherfuneral.com.
Colleagues remember Kennedy as a calm presence in the newsroom — someone who valued accuracy over speed and collaboration over recognition. He encouraged young reporters to ask better questions, dig deeper, and most importantly, listen. Many journalists who worked alongside him credit his steady guidance and belief in their potential as foundational to their careers.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Kennedy was known for his warmth and wry sense of humor. He was born on August 21, 1938, in Elkins, West Virginia and as a young boy, he lived in Charleston, WV, D.C. and La Jolla, CA. He traveled the world with his parents and often cited a trip behind the Iron Curtain including Prague, Budapest, the Kremlin and Lake Baikal in 1954 as particularly influential. He was also an animal lover, spending lots of time at the San Diego Zoo.
He was interred at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in D.C., where he was an active member.
Thank you, Mr. Davis, for being an advocate for local news. We are forever grateful.
