Terrence David McGuire

Terrence David James “Terry” McGuire, 70, died on September 27, 2026.

Terry was, in every sense, larger than life. He was loud, opinionated, funny, generous, occasionally difficult, and almost always “on.” He did not move quietly through the world, and those who knew him benefited from the noise. Terry spent his life squeezing everything he could from it. He was happiest surrounded by people he loved, with something worth eating, something worth drinking, and a story worth telling.

For more than 30 years, Terry built a career in property management, ultimately serving as Vice President at Cardinal Management. He took his work seriously, but his working life also gave him some of his strongest friendships. He especially loved the parties hosted by the Community Associations Institute, where he became a familiar and unforgettable presence and, often, the life of the party.

Terry had a gift for turning an ordinary gathering into an occasion. He was famous for arriving at picnics and barbecues with what he called “unnecessary plastic objects,” chosen solely to create laughter and joy. At family gatherings, he often came with bottles of champagne and made it his business to keep everyone’s glass full.

He also found quieter, more personal ways to let people know they mattered. Terry’s dining room table was frequently covered with an overflowing stack of greeting cards waiting to be mailed, each one evidence that someone had crossed his mind and deserved to be remembered. He had a particular talent for finding the perfect gift. Words were not always his strength, but affection was, and he expressed it through attention, humor, generosity, and care.

He was deeply devoted to his family. Terry cared passionately for his mother, Mary, and his “Aunt Peg.” He affectionately referred to the two petite women as “the short people,” a nickname made all the more amusing by Terry’s own considerable size. He took great pride in his daughter, Theresa, and son-in-law, Greg. He admired Theresa’s strength and resilience and appreciated Greg’s patience. Friends were often entertained by Terry’s stories of past tailgates and by the pride he took in sharing Peyton’s and Grayson’s latest accomplishments.

While he was “Big T” to so many in his family, he was “Uncle Terry” to Christian Johnson. Terry treasured teaching him to fish, taking him on amusement-park trips, cooking pizza and tuna casserole at home, and hearing about Christian’s successes and plans for the future. He especially loved their shopping trips and took great pleasure in teaching Christian to appreciate dressing well. Terry was immensely proud of the man Christian became. Attending Christian’s graduation from the United States Coast Guard Academy was among the proudest moments of Terry’s life.

Terry’s tastes and hobbies were every bit as distinctive as he was. He took up acting in dinner theater later in life and was happy that it brought him closer to his nephew, Michael. He loved

playing golf and riding motorcycles with friends. He adored slot machines, Cap’n Crunch chicken fingers, any chance to add to his enormous wardrobe, and the Washington Redskins.

His favorite line captured his self-deprecating humor. When someone thanked him for his affection or generosity, he would often say, “It’s the least I could do, and I’m known for doing the least I can do.” Those who knew Terry understood how far from the truth that was. When someone mattered to him, he gave one hundred percent.

In his final weeks, Terry dictated a final message that he wanted shared:

“I am deeply grateful to have had these last few months with the people I loved. The potato salad and Bolognese, the rides to my doctor appointments, visits from friends who came from so far away, cigar time, friends vacuuming, snack deliveries, and weekends spent on my patio all made the pain easier. I never wanted people to be inconvenienced, but it helped me know I mattered.

“Reconnecting with Father Z and with the Catholic faith my parents gave me was a relief. Thanks to Tracey for pushing me. I needed it. And let Tom know that his prayers with and for me made all of this easier.”

To his siblings, Terry said: “Know I love you. Thanks for showing up. I’m not easy, and this hasn’t been easy, but each time you were here, you gave me a little more strength to face what was coming.”

To all those who knew and cared for him, Terry wanted them to know that he would carry their love with him and looked forward, in faith, to seeing them again on the other side.

Terry was predeceased by his wife, Shirley; his parents, Joseph and Mary McGuire; and his aunt and uncle, Margaret “Peg” and Ed Fitzgerald.

He is survived by his daughter, Theresa Fowler; son-in-law, Greg Fowler; and grandchildren, Peyton and Grayson Fowler. He is also survived by his siblings, John J. McGuire and his partner, Linda Koch, of Martinsburg, West Virginia; Mary C. Dean and her husband, Dr. John C. Dean, of Amherst, Virginia; and Daniel F. McGuire of Front Royal, Virginia.

His nieces and nephews include Michael Dean and his wife, Meredith, and their children, Daniel Dean, Nathaniel Morris, and Kaitlyn Dean; Paul Dean and his wife, Miranda, of Forest, Virginia, and their daughter, Emma Dean; Robert Dean and his wife, Mirna, of Front Royal, Virginia; Brandi McGuire and her partner, Tommy Bishop, and their children, Connor and Landon, of San Diego, California; Marcia Farley of San Diego, California; Terrence McGuire, Terry’s namesake, and his wife, Kristina, of Wichita Falls, Texas; Thomas McGuire and his wife, Misty, and their children, Keely and McKenna, of Seymour, Tennessee; and Patricia Wright and her husband, Kevin, and their treasured son, Cole, of Purcellville, Va.

Terry is also survived by numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins whom he adored, along with an extraordinary circle of friends whose names are too numerous to fit comfortably on a page, but whose importance in Terry’s life would be impossible to overstate.

Visitation and viewing will be held on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Money & King Funeral Home, 171 Maple Avenue West, Vienna, Virginia.

A Catholic funeral prayer service will be held at Money & King Funeral Home on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 12:30 p.m., celebrated by the Rev. Matthew Zuberbueler, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church. The Rite of Committal and interment will follow at 2:00 p.m. at Fairfax Memorial Park, 9900 Braddock Road, Fairfax, Virginia, where Father Zuberbuhler will lead the prayers of committal at Terry’s final resting place.

A reception and celebration of Terry’s life will follow at 3:00 p.m. at Ireland’s Four Provinces, 105 West Broad Street, Falls Church, Virginia. Friends and family are invited to share stories, enjoy one another’s company, and raise a glass in Terry’s memory.