Terribly sad news to report tonight. Kamal Gill, the creator and owner of The Zone in Ashburn, has passed away. His family confirmed the news in an obituary shared online Wednesday evening.
“Kamal is remembered as a large hearted, loving, generous, friendly, adventurous, well read, community and environment conscious individual who would give the shirt off his back for his friends and loved ones,” the memorial read.
And indeed, local businesspeople The Burn spoke with Wednesday remembered Gill for his kindness and his involvement in many local charitable endeavors.
These included serving on the Board of Directors of the Loudoun Literacy Council and Touching Heart, a local charity. He was active in the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce and a finalist for the organization’s Entrepreneur of the Year in 2015 and 2016.
With his daughters, Gill created a fundraiser to support pediatric cancer care in Brazil. Through The Zone, Gill supported local schools with Spirit Nights and held charity events to benefit local non-profits.
“Kamal Gill was without any doubt, a wonderful, remarkable human being,” said Allison Shannon, president of 37 Media & Marketing Group. “I feel proud and lucky to have called him a friend. He was generous with his time and his big, bright quirky smile. He was a quiet, kind soul with an unwavering commitment to making our community stronger and more inclusive.”
“He dreamed big and worked hard to make the world a better place,” said his friend, Katie Wilson, president of The Market Group Inc. “He leaves behind a legacy of service and an indelible mark on everyone who was blessed to know him.”
On Tuesday, The Zone — a local kids entertainment venue and sports bar and restaurant — posted on social media that they were temporarily closed for an unforeseen emergency, which has now become all too understandable.
The future of The Zone is unclear. The GM at the venue told us today that it will remain closed until further notice while they work to find a positive solution.
The Burn sends our sincere condolences to the friends and family of Kamal Gill.