Donald Evan Kinner

On December 15th, 2020, the Honorable Donald Evan Kinner, known to most as Don, passed away after a brief hospitalization at Virginia Hospital Center. He was 63 years old. Don was born on September 23rd, 1957, in Smithtown, New York. He attended Kings Park High School, developing lifelong friendships that he cherished. He is a proud graduate of Syracuse University where Don earned bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Broadcast Journalism. He then began work at the David Taylor Naval Ship Research and Development Center just outside Washington D.C. before attending George Mason University School of Law. Don joined the General Counsel’s office of the Naval Air Systems Command in 1984. He left the Navy in 1987 to become a trial attorney with the then Claims Court section of the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Civil Division in the Department of Justice. In 1998, he advanced to Senior Trial Counsel and in 1999 he was promoted Assistant Director. He was appointed as a Federal Judge to the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals in July of 2016. Don met his wife, Miriam (Mimi to most), during law school. They married in 1987 and he was always proud of their strong happy marriage. One of the great joys of his life was travelling the world extensively. While he travelled greatly for work, he enjoyed his trips with his wife and friends even more. He was most proud to be the Father of two beautiful, truly special individuals which brought him immense joy. He is survived by his son, Keil; daughter, Kelsey; his brother, Richard (Becky), niece Amanda Bailey (Brian); nephew Andrew (Sara); and his three great nephews, Douglass, Griffin, Wyatt; and niece, Lena. A celebration of life service for Donald will be held Saturday, September 25, 2021 at 11:00 AM at Murphy Funeral Home, 1102 W. Broad St., VA 22046. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.murphy-fh.com for the Kinner family. In lieu of flowers the family asks that contributions be made to the Judicial Watch.