A Mass of Christian Burial for Kevin M. Kearney, a partner in the law firm of Wingate, Kearney and Cullen, was celebrated Jan. 7 at St. Francis de Sales Church, Belle Harbor.

The main celebrant of the funeral Mass was Msgr. Otto L. Garcia, a long- time friend.

Kearney, 61, died Jan. 3 after a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer.

A graduate of Manhattan College, 1974, and St. John’s University School of Law, 1977, Kearney represented the Diocese of Brooklyn for more than 37 years on various legal matters, as did his late father, John Kearney.

He has been engaged in representation, education and litigation in all aspects of legal issues facing not-for- profit and religious. Additionally, he regularly counseled religious, charitable and academic institutions in regulatory, tax, real estate, trust and estate and general corporate matters.

A frequent lecturer and a regular panel participant in the annual Diocesan Wills and Estates Seminar, Kearney was a member of the Brooklyn and New York State Bar Associations and the Catholic Lawyers Guild.

He was a member of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre and has served on the New York State Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Legal Advisory Committee. He was a Director of Concern Worldwide US, an international human relief organization for which he has traveled extensively in reviewing projects in Asia, Africa and Central America.

Kearney is a former president of the Cathedral Club of Brooklyn as well as the Emerald Association of Long Island and was active with Futures in Education. An ardent runner at Nazareth R.H.S., Brooklyn, and Manhattan College, Kearney ran several New York City Marathons and was a member of the Rockaway Gliders.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Beth, and their children Christine, Elisa, and Sean; and his brothers John and James.

Burial was in St. John’s Cemetery, Middle Village.