Kevin J. Babbington - Obituary

evin Joseph Babbington died suddenly and unexpectedly on Thursday, April 7, 2022. Kevin was the firstborn son of William Joseph (“Billy”) and Elizabeth (“Betsy”) Ann (Howerton) Babbington and is survived by his wife Yvonne Pauline (Rieker), daughter Brittany Ann and son Kevin William; his brother Brendan (Margaret) and sisters Carrie (Michael) Hillegass and Cassie (Josh) Monk and thirteen nieces and nephews. Kevin was predeceased by his father and sister, Susanne Marie Babbington. A devoted husband, father, brother and son, Kevin was the rock upon which many family and friends relied. Born on May 7, 1967 in Washington, DC, Kevin attended Blessed Sacrament School and St. John’s College Preparatory Academy in Washington, DC. He was a member of the Junior ROTC program, played numerous positions on the St. Johns’ Varsity football team and the varsity baseball team as an outfielder. Ever an industrious boy, Kevin delivered the newspaper, caddied at Chevy Chase Club, and worked for various companies. Kevin graduated from Drexel University where he studied electrical engineering and co-oped at the National Security Agency (NSA) as an undergrad. Kevin also earned a Masters of Science Telecommunications and Computers from the George Washington University. He had a very successful and accomplished 30 year career at NSA, after which he started his own cyber security company, where he supported Homeland Security and other federal agencies. Kevin met his soulmate Yvonne at the NSA and they were married in Antigua on July 1, 1995. The two became very proud parents of Brittany Ann and Kevin William. Kevin truly enjoyed watching Brittany and Kevin excel academically and athletically, while guiding and supporting Brittany’s field hockey, lacrosse, track, and competitive Irish dance and Kevin William’s football, baseball, basketball, and lacrosse. Kevin maintained an active presence and supported his children through college, adding his insights and experience to engineering, science and other coursework and life skills, often pointing out activities on campus that his children did not even know about. In addition to being incredibly smart, Kevin was talented athletically. He enjoyed playing golf, softball, football and skiing. Some of his happiest times were playing golf with his son Kevin William. He often played with friends at Queenstown and other local courses. He enjoyed playing at the TPC Louisiana, San Antonio, Sawgrass, Poppy Hills, Pebble Beach, Whistling Straits in Wisconsin, Koolau in Hawaii, and Streamsong in Tampa for his 50th birthday. Kevin and his brother Brendan won the Brother-Brother golf tournament at Columbia Country Club in 2010. He volunteered at the 2011 U.S. Open at Congressional and attended the 2016 PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club in NJ. Kevin loved attending and watching all sports, starting with his childrens’ activities. Kevin avidly watched ESPN and checked virtually every sports app on his phone to stay up-to-date on the latest scores. Among his favorite sporting events were the Super Bowl, the Master’s, and the Final Four. He actively supported his hometown teams - the Redskins, Nationals, Capitals, and Wizards - as well as the Bowie Baysox and U.S. Naval Academy football, where he was a season ticket holder. Kevin attended playoff games for each of Washington’s professional teams, and was proud to have come away with some of the turf after the Redskins won the NFC Championship Game in the 1980s and he made it into the Washington Bullets locker room after they won the NBA Championship in 1979. He wondered if autographs from these events still remain in the eaves of his boyhood home on Turner Lane in Chevy Chase. Beyond sports, Kevin loved music and good entertainment. Among his favorite performers were the Eagles, Pink Floyd, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, AC/DC, Elton John, and Jimmy Buffet, whom he and Yvonne would see every year when he came through the area before COVID. Kevin always enjoyed a good laugh watching Caddyshack, Dodgeball, Airplane, Stripes, Adam Sandler’s early comedies, and the James Bond franchise, as well as Cheers and MASH reruns. His understated, lighthearted sense of humor was delivered to great effect, but never at the expense of another. He loved inside jokes that could get a laugh through a simple phrase. Kevin and Yvonne enjoyed traveling and experiencing all that life has to offer. He loved the ocean and one of his favorite pastimes was to sit on the balcony at sunset after a full day on the beach. He loved cruises, the Caribbean and turquoise waters. Kevin and Yvonne traveled extensively and made a point to see and explore all that any location had to offer. He was the unofficial family tour guide and provided personal recommendations and reviews on local food and happenings. He always preferred finding the local spots away from the tourist hotspots. Kevin frequently traveled to Hawaii and Germany with work and enjoyed his experience celebrating Oktoberfest in Munich. Kevin truly enjoyed being with family. He enjoyed taking long family walks with the dog, sitting around the firepit with a nice cigar at the Bay House in Edgewater, and just being with his siblings and extended family. A yearly highlight for all was Thanksgiving dinner after the annual Turkey Bowl, when Kevin and Yvonne hosted more than 20 family members that filled two large rooms. The house was filled with football and food, and Kevin made sure he served everyone’s favorite drinks. Kevin had a memory that rivaled an elephant’s and many turned to him to fill in details and descriptions from times past that otherwise could not be remembered. Kevin was a devout and active member of the Catholic Church. His unwavering faith helped him and others through difficult times. Kevin was active in St. Mary’s Parish in Annapolis, and he was a 3rd Degree Member of the Knights of Columbus, Annapolis Council. He delivered food to the poor every Thanksgiving and Christmas and made donations to local shelters through the Church. A stable and steady presence, Kevin truly lived Christ’s example of service and support to others. His presence will truly be missed but never forgotten. Family and Friends are invited to celebrate Kevin's life on Monday, April 18, 2022, from 6 pm until 8 pm at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Tuesday, April 19, 2022, at 10:30 am at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 620 Bestgate Road, Annapolis, MD 21401.