Martin "Art" Denis Walsh

Martin D. (Art) Walsh of McLean, VA and Vero Beach, FL died on June 6, 2022, at Inova Fairfax Hospital. He was 78 years old. Loving husband of Nan Walsh; father of Ada-Marie Walsh Aman (Matt) and Sarah-Nell Walsh (Albert Guthrie), Lucia and Jamie Terpak; brother of Patrick J. Walsh (Margaret), Janet Walsh, Kathleen Walsh Posey (David), Christine Walsh Donohue (Joseph), and predeceased by John B. Walsh (Jeanne). He was also the devoted grandfather of four: Clare, William, Julia, and Elizabeth.

Son of Martin J. Walsh and Clare Miller Walsh, Art grew up in Arlington County Virginia’s Lyon Village neighborhood and attended Bishop O'Connell High School where he played basketball and baseball. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the College of William & Mary. He subsequently served as an officer in the United States Army between 1967 and 1969, and the Army Reserves between 1969 and 1976. In 1969, he received the Army Commendation Medal which is awarded for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service.

In 1973, Art earned his law degree from the College of William & Mary’s Marshall-Wythe School of Law where he served as the President of the Student Bar Association. He was committed to giving back to his beloved alma mater and conducted various presentations on zoning, land use, and commercial real estate at the law school. The law school awarded Art the honorary Order of Coif Faculty Award. Then in 2015, Art was awarded the coveted Alumni Medallion Award, the highest and most prestigious award given by the William & Mary Alumni Association. During the Alumni Medallion Award ceremony, Art noted, “My parents inspired me and my brothers and sisters to have faith, work hard and be humble. It is that legacy that we all try to honor on a daily basis.”

Of his many accomplishments, Art was most proud of the success of his firm, Walsh Colucci Lubeley & Walsh, which he began with four friends. While many thought it was too risky at the time, Art relied on a combination of hard work, good fortune, and wonderful clients to ensure the firm’s success. Art was consistently recognized as a top land use attorney in publications such as Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, Chambers, Martindale-Hubbell Washingtonian Magazine, Forbes Magazine, Legal Times Magazine, Law and Politics Magazine, and Arlington Magazine. His commitment to integrity, generosity, and congeniality shaped the personality of the firm and its professionals.

Outside of his law practice, Art contributed to numerous philanthropic causes. For the past 23 years, he hosted an annual golf outing to raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), the world’s leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. The fundraiser pays tribute to Art’s brother John, who was diagnosed with T1D at age 11 and passed away in 2000 due to complications from the disease. Art described the golf outing as a great way to honor his brother, reconnect with colleagues and clients, and contribute to JDRF. In 2016, Art received the Rapaport Lifetime Service Award, which recognized his tireless efforts in raising more than $1.5 million over the years for JDRF.

Art loved spending time with his wife, Nan Walsh, and his daughters Ada-Marie and Sarah Nell. He loved reading the newspaper, the Redskins, golf cart rides, making people laugh, spoiling his grandchildren, and Thanksgiving. Famous for his warm smile, quick wit and fierce loyalty, Art was larger than life. He will be remembered for his tremendous sense of humor and congenial personality, for his generous nature, and for caring deeply for his family, friends, and colleagues, many of whom are proud to call him a mentor.

Art will be deeply missed as both a dad, grandad, brother, uncle, friend, leader, and colleague. His passing is an immense loss to all who knew him. Please keep your thoughts and prayers with Art’s family during this difficult time.

While the funeral and burial are private, friends are welcome to join the Celebration of Life (see below).

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 1400 K Street, Ste. 1200, Washington, DC 20005 or at http://www2.jdrf.org/goto/ArtWalsh

Cards and notes of condolence may be sent to: The Walsh Family, c/o Walsh Colucci Lubeley & Walsh, 2200 Clarendon Blvd., Suite 1300, Arlington, VA, 22201.

CELEBRATION OF LIFE

Friends, family and colleagues are welcome to join in the Celebration of Life for Art Walsh on Thursday, June 30, 2022, at 12 noon at Westwood Country Club, 800 Maple Ave. East, Vienna, VA. Please RSVP at this link: https://tinyurl.com/ArtWalsh