Dear friends of The Beacon,
On behalf of The Beacon, we join in the profound sadness at news of the passing of David Oliver, founding board chair of The Beacon, trusted advisor and lifelong advocate for civic journalism and local engagement.
We received this news with heavy hearts. David’s legacy touches every part of The Beacon. Below are reflections from our founder, our CEO and our current board chair.
From Kelsey Ryan, founder of The Beacon: When I first met David Oliver, The Beacon was still just an idea on paper. He was one of the people who helped turn it into reality — someone who said yes right away and then poured his time and energy into helping make it happen, becoming its first board president.
David was one of the most generous people I’ve ever known. He was the opposite of a gatekeeper — he opened doors and gave people the encouragement they needed to walk through. He embodied everything you could want in a mentor. He was a cheerleader when you needed support, but he also wasn’t afraid to share constructive feedback and hard truths.
Like so many people, I owe a great deal to David. He was a humble servant of Kansas City. His greatest gifts were his time, his expertise and his willingness to connect people. That was his legacy, and it will live on in all the people whose lives he touched.
From Stephanie Campbell, CEO of The Beacon: David believed in our mission from the beginning, even when it was only an idea and a PowerPoint. He was there when Kelsey needed someone to pitch her idea for bringing nonprofit news to Kansas City, then was a champion helping open doors across town, navigating these meetings with conviction and care. Later, David encouraged me to step into this role as CEO and lead The Beacon into its next chapter. Without David, The Beacon’s journey would have looked much different. We continue to walk alongside the people and organizations he introduced to The Beacon and its mission, and we are forever grateful for his contributions to local news in our region.
Even as illness made it harder for him to stay active in recent years, David remained steadfastly engaged in the Kansas City community, including his support of The Beacon. From the sidelines, he sent encouragement and “attagirls” that always seemed to arrive at just the right time. His belief in this organization and in the importance of independent journalism never wavered.
From Brittany Barrientos, chair of The Beacon’s board of directors: Beyond The Beacon, David left a remarkable imprint on Kansas City’s civic life. He built a distinguished career as a partner at Berkowitz Oliver and later devoted himself fully to strengthening the region’s nonprofit and philanthropic sector. He co-founded PLX Corp., guided foundations and nonprofits across the community, and helped lead the Board Diversity Initiative to expand and diversify civic leadership. He mentored young lawyers, entrepreneurs and nonprofit executives across the region, and they (we) benefited greatly from his experience and how generous he was with his time. His contributions were recognized in 2019 with the Junior League of Kansas City’s Branton/Hall Community Collaborator Award, and, while he was recognized often, it was far less than deserved because his efforts were hard to match.
We are grieving the loss of a visionary leader, mentor and friend, and we hold his family and loved ones in our hearts. The Beacon exists today in large part because David believed it could, and his legacy will always be part of who we are.
With deep gratitude,
Stephanie Campbell, CEO of The Beacon
Kelsey Ryan, founder of The Beacon
Brittany Barrientos, chair of The Beacon’s board of directors
