Kate and William Fralin

Kate Simoni Fralin
January 7, 1964 - April 2, 2025

Kate Simoni Fralin of Chevy Chase, Maryland passed away under heartbreaking circumstances at home on Wednesday, April 2, 2025.

Born in New York City and raised in Tenafly, NJ, Kate married William "Bill" Fralin in October 1988 after meeting him in Cape May, NJ working at The Chalfonte during one of her summers in college. She leaves behind her beloved children Abigail, Hayden, and Hallie Fralin, as well as her sister Jane Simoni Cooke and brother David Simoni. She also leaves behind a nephew Ronan Cooke, nephews and nieces in the Fralin family, official and unofficial godchildren, and many friends who were like family to her. She was predeceased by her parents, Guy Simoni and Barbara "Bibby" Grove Simoni.

Kate graduated from Kenyon College where she earned a Bachelor's in American History. She began her 25-year award-winning public relations career at Ogilvy & Mather Public Affairs in Washington, DC, followed by communications leadership roles at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, MCI, Fannie Mae, and her own consultancy. She pivoted her PR career to create one of the first sustainable fashion brands in the U.S., Good Jeans Company, before eventually becoming a Realtor with the Dana Rice Group in Chevy Chase, Maryland. During her time as a Realtor, she became known for helping empty nesters in the Washington, DC, area downsize their living arrangements while maintaining a strong sense of self, home, and family. She had the gifts of grit and grace that served her clients well. She was a beloved colleague of everyone she worked with throughout her esteemed professional life.

Kate volunteered her time and resources for a number of nonprofit and community service organizations including the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, FRESHFARM, and Toys for Tots. She and Bill were members of the Chevy Chase Club and, over the years, she served on fundraising, parents, and community relations committees for her children's schools. She also served on the Board of Trustees at St. Patrick's Episcopal Day School. As a lifelong learner, Kate was devoted to supporting her children's educational journeys and professional aspirations, encouraging them to pursue the things that energized them and brought them joy and purpose.

Kate was an avid and accomplished athlete, competing in marathons and triathlons, swimming, cycling, and playing recreational and league tennis. She also created and maintained a decades-long book club that brought together women who loved reading with a side dish of juicy celebrity gossip. While she enjoyed her family's travels, she loved caring for her home, bringing friends together for lunch and a glass or two of wine, cooking for her family and her kids' friends after school and on the weekends, growing the most beautiful flowers in her garden, and spending time in her happy place, Cape May, NJ, surrounded by the sounds of the ocean, seagulls, and the laughter of those around her who felt right at home with her at the beach.

Above and beyond the community service roles and hobbies Kate participated in, she and Bill had a broad and welcoming definition of the word family. Their home was always open to anyone during times of need, sorrow, or celebration. Together, they loved bringing people together and celebrating others' accomplishments and milestones. Their kids' friends considered the Fralins like second parents, and everyone was welcome in their eyes.

Despite her unexpected passing, it is important to know that Kate lived a big, bold, bright, loving, and joy-filled life. She was everyone's cheerleader and confidante and the glue that held together many friendship and community groups. Her way-too-soon passing reminds us that we need to take advantage of every opportunity to let someone know we care about them and that we love them.

Her children, family, and friends ask that you hold Kate's memory close to your heart and do what you can to embody her spirit of generosity, welcoming, and inclusion in everything you do. Whether it's planting something beautiful in your garden or a local community garden, having friends over for a lavish and rollicking dinner party, or being a good listener and supporter of someone who may be having a hard time, Kate would want all of us to live a life of service, grace, and kindness.

The family welcomes any memories of Kate you would like to share with them. Plans are in development for a celebration of Kate's life, and the family will announce that at a later time. Memorial contributions in Kate's name may be made to the Cape May Community Food Closet at cmfoodcloset.org/donate, calling 609-600-7715, via Venmo at @cmfoodcloset, or via postal mail to Cape May Community Food Closet, 500 Hughes Street, Cape May, NJ 08204.

William Scott Fralin
January 3, 1962 - April 2, 2025

William "Bill" Scott Fralin of Chevy Chase, Maryland took his own life on Wednesday, April 2, 2025 at home.

Born and raised in Roanoke, Virginia, Bill married Kate Simoni in 1988. He leaves behind his children Abigail, Hayden, and Hallie Fralin, as well as his siblings Mark Wayne Fralin (Marcia), John "Jack" Timothy Fralin (Dana), Gayle Elizabeth Fralin, and Jill Louise Fralin Trivellin, as well as many well-loved nieces and nephews, close cousins, and cherished friends. He was predeceased by his brother Michael Gordon Fralin and his parents, Gordon Wayne Fralin and Mary Jane Ingram Fralin.

Bill attended Virginia Episcopal School in Lynchburg, and received his Bachelor's in English Language and Literature from the University of Virginia and his J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law. He began his career as a trust officer at First American Bank in Washington, DC and, from there, built an impressive career as one of the Washington, DC, area's leading elder law attorneys in private practice. He was a member of the National Elder Law Foundation and worked with thousands of families in the Washington, DC, metro area on preserving their legacies and providing a sense of peace for family members after their loved ones were gone. He was a sought-after expert guest speaker and writer on the topic of estate planning, elder law, Medicare, and aging-related financial policies. He was known for handling the sensitive and often difficult topic of estate planning with grace, kindness, and gentle humor and helped individuals and families feel at ease and in good hands during a vulnerable time.

Bill loved music, was larger than life both in height and gregarious personality, and he loved to talk politics and policy with anyone who could keep up with his debate-minded brain and conversational acrobatics. He and Kate made a phenomenal team when it came to entertaining in their home or bringing friends together for the holidays. They made everyone feel welcome and included, and everyone left their get-togethers with incredibly fun, long-lasting memories. Bill was an avid amateur photographer who catalogued every social gathering with photographs kept lovingly in albums for all to cherish year after year.

Bill was devoted to Kate and her professional and personal goals as well as to his children and their education and hobbies and interests whether on the athletic field, in the horse ring, behind a camera, or on stage. His family meant everything to him, and that included his close friends who were like brothers to him. He and Kate recently renovated and preserved a historic home in Cape May, NJ, and he enjoyed being part of the community there especially with local preservation and community development efforts.

Bill was open with friends, family, and his community about his lifelong struggle with depression and addiction. He was a beloved member of the Washington, DC, area recovery community and brought countless people to their first community meetings to share with them the camaraderie and support that had sustained him for more than 20 years. His helping care behind the scenes in other people's times of need is something all who loved him hold dear.

No one could have anticipated how Bill's life and Kate's life ended, and their family and friends ask for grace as they grieve and come to terms with this unimaginable loss. Bill and Kate's loved ones encourage anyone who is struggling with their mental health to reach out to someone, anyone, and ask for help. From a mobile phone, you can dial 988 to reach a suicide prevention counselor or 911 for help to come to you. Or, you can walk into any emergency room, doctor's office, or other health care or social services office and tell them you need help.

The family welcomes any memories of Bill you would like to share with them. Plans are in development for a memorial service, and the family will announce that at a later time. Memorial contributions in Bill's name may be made to the Cape May Community Food Closet at cmfoodcloset.org/donate, calling 609-600-7715, via Venmo at @cmfoodcloset, or via postal mail to Cape May Community Food Closet, 500 Hughes Street, Cape May, NJ 08204.