Small grants went to 15 more Jewish charities, and the rest to such local charities as boys clubs and hospital funds. Services Guestbook Condolences. Devoted father to Laurence (Sherri) Cafritz and Jodi (Mark Bronsky) Cafritz; cherished grandfather to Daniel, Ryan, Jeremy, Jack and Mick; beloved friend of first wife Sandie Cafritz; loving brother to the late William (Buffy) Cafritz; treasured uncle to Sandy (Helen . But he believes her drinking was a source of family discord. What do Conrad and Carter Cafritz hope to gain from an arduous legal proceeding that already involves at least 12 law firms and threatens to stretch on for years? He was preceded in death by his brother Carter Cafritz. "I used to call up the house and get her maid, and her maid would talk to me about her, and say that she was completely worn out and simply couldn't get up and get herself ready to go on the warpath," says socialite Polly Logan. Peggy Cooper Cafritz, a doyenne of Washington arts and education, who tried to mend many of the city's social and racial wounds, created one of the nation's leading arts-intensive high schools,. Carter Cafritz, who sits on the board of WETA, began his career in partnership with Conrad, building apartments and town houses in and around the city. The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, the charitable organization Calvin Cafritz had led since 1989, confirmed his passing and provided a copy of his obituary, which didnt disclose cause of death. We welcome you to provide your thoughts and memories on our Tribute Wall. Calvins father Morris built the now-demolished Ambassador Hotel at 14th and K Streets NW, homes next to the National Arboretum, the Greenwich Forest neighborhood in Bethesda and several office buildings downtown. But Conrad has rolled out impressive legal artillery, captained by former White House counsel Lloyd N. Cutler, and seems prepared to dig in for a long siege -- at least long enough, perhaps, to wring a settlement from his opponents. Your email address will not be published. Even as the chaos of wartime Washington started to loosen social strictures, Washington's leading hostess, Evalyn Walsh McLean, stopped entertaining; this opening, together with a boost from Eleanor "Cissy" Patterson, publisher of the Washington Times-Herald, gave Gwendolyn her opportunity. Asked in 1954 why all her sons bore two-syllable names beginning with "C," she replied, "Morris names all children, horses, dogs, apartment houses and everything around here. You have funeral questions, we have answers. She could no longer make an entrance, of course. Once grown, the sons established limited, perfunctory contacts with their mother. "Conrad is really an anomaly," says lawyer and real estate developer Donald Brown. He died on Thursday, Jan. 12, at age 91. He's truly out to make a big impact on the city, I think. Mr. Cafritz has been an exemplary advocate for excellence in government and nonprofits in D.C., and the foundation has been a force for community self-efficacy. The George Washington University community is remembering the life of Calvin Cafritz, a businessman, philanthropist and longtime supporter of GW. Would you like to offer Calvin Cafritzs loved ones a condolence message? We welcome you to provide your thoughts and memories on our Tribute Wall. If you experience a barrier that affects your ability to access content on this page, let us know via the. All rights reserved. Your email address will not be published. a medically-induced . They charge in their suit that Rogers and Atlas influenced her to leave all the property she controlled to the foundation. Cafritz's passing was confirmed by the charitable organization named after Morris and his wife, The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation. This is in alignment with GW efforts to benefit the local community., Cafritz was a leading force in the establishment of GWs Center for Excellence in Public Leadership (CEPL) in 1997, to help support the D.C. government just as it was coming out of receivership from the U.S. Congress. He has assembled a group of about 14 local hotels, including the Georgetown Inn and One Washington Circle. "Watch Washington Grow to One Million," he urged in newspaper ads of the '40s, a slogan he changed to "Watch Washington Grow to Two Million" after the 1950 census counted more than 1.4 million in the metropolitan area. "I think it has the clean linear design of a Botticelli, and the elegance of an English portrait," she burbles, in her faintly accented great-lady voice, "and that's the way I would like my children to remember me. JAMES CAFRITZ Obituary (1930 - 2020) - Rockville, DC - The Washington Post It is hard not to wonder what the effect might have been of hearing Gwendolyn Cafritz's will read for the first time. For him, philanthropy required partnerships that are broad, diverse, and extensive. At the least, then, Gwendolyn's will disposes of more than $140 million. . Expand the Memories and Condolences form. The Cromwell, Aberdeen, Fernbrook, Rosedale, Isleworth, Traymore and Zellwood are in sorry shape today, but still stand as a modest monument to the name C-A-F-R-I-T-Z. It took lawyers and IRS agents 4 years to settle the estate, which was valued in 1968 at $66 million. Through his dedication to the Foundation and his beloved Washington, DC community, Mr. Cafritz was deeply committed to building a more just and beautiful region with access to opportunities for all. The family observed Jewish holidays, and the sons attended religious school at Washington Hebrew Congregation on weekends. All are multimillionaires, and Conrad Cafritz, by most accounts the prime instigator of the lawsuit, has spun his inheritance from his father into a vast personal fortune of at minimum $100 million. None of the Cafritz sons can be said to need the money that is at stake. After their marriage in 1981, Conrad and Peggy bought Sen. Stuart Symington's house in the Foxhall Road area, studied it for a while, then tore it down to build a new house. Morris Cafritz incorporated the foundation in 1948 to give money to Washington-area charities, and when he died 16 years later, he left it half his estate, mostly as stock in dozens of closely held corporations; as the new majority owner of most of these companies, and with Gwendolyn owning most of the rest, the foundation became in essence the owner of the Cafritz Co., its subsidiaries and its assets. Dean Liesl Riddle of the GW College of Professional Studies (CPS), where GW CEPL has been housed since 2005, said, Our college was launched to make an economic and social impact through innovative professional programs that cultivate talent for employers and propel students careers forward. Yet Morris made little impression on Gwendolyn's social world, and she often went out or took vacations alone. But almost no one seems to doubt that Conrad is the main force behind it. Kateryna Pyatybratova directs the centers Cafritz Awards program. Atlas too declined to comment, but he issued a statement when the suit was filed saying that he had no role in drafting the will, and no advance knowledge of its contents. He was 91. . Of the $54 million the foundation has given away since 1970, $32 million has gone to the arts and humanities, almost $9 million to community services, $8 million to education and almost $5 million to health. It is easy to imagine that for a son of Morris Cafritz, watching great deals go unmade is a kind of hell. You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or plant a tree in memory of Calvin Cafritz. "I think he went along," says a longtime business associate, Irwin Altman. Required fields are marked *. Chances are, many Washingtonians might not even realize how much real estate the Cafritz family is responsible for in the area. Cafritz was a tireless promoter of the city. ", Gwendolyn's estate is worth at least $140 million, including both her personal holdings and a trust passed on from Morris Cafritz's will (see box, Page 32). One quarter to his widow, in a "marital trust" that would pay her interest until her death and give her the power to "appoint" the ultimate heirs to the principal; if she did not exercise this power, the principal would pass to the Cafritzes' sons upon her death. We hoped to let the public know about these outstanding individuals and to send a message to other excellent government employees that their dedication and considerable accomplishments are valued." Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you. And in the two decades of her advocacy, she has established a high profile -- and raised a lot of hackles among the old guard that runs most of the city's major cultural institutions. After Morris Cafritz died, his close associate Martin Atlas became executive vice president of the company, and vice president and treasurer of the Cafritz Foundation, while Gwendolyn Cafritz ultimately became president of both. Cafritz Calvin Cafritz Washington developer and one of the region's leading philanthropists, died Thursday morning, January 12, 2023, at Sibley Memorial Hospital, in Washington, DC. A unique and lasting tribute for a loved one. Except for minor bequests to former employees and other family members, she also left to the foundation all of the property she owned outright. But in the end, her siege of Washington society outlasted most of those limits. The Cafritz Foundation is also a longtime supporter of GWs Honey W. Nashman Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service. But it was a heady enough wine to call out 300 guests, and the ghosts of many more who had preceded them. The entire time, he fought with gloves off, publicly charging his rivals with bad faith. She was a member of Main Street Church of Christ in Monticello, AR. Or purchase a subscription for unlimited access to real news you can count on. "Carter Cafritz is just a genuine nice fellow," says Raymond Carter, a former vice president of the Cafritz Co. "Conrad is more in the father's mold. He was 91. For the sons of Gwendolyn Cafritz, to accept her last will and testament would be to allow her, in more than one sense, the last word. He too has denied the sons' allegations in his formal answer to their complaint. But he's much different from his father, in a lot of ways. Authorize the publication of the original written obituary with the accompanying photo. "That black sense of humor asserts itself, or he'll do something outrageous." (202) 338-4833, Georgetown Media Group. That's why her final victory rather delighted me. It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of Calvin Cafritz (Rockville, Maryland), who passed away on January 12, 2023, at the age of 91, leaving to mourn family and friends. He warmly greeted staff and fellow philanthropist alike, making no distinction between people. Calvin Cafritz, D.C. developer and head of the Cafritz Foundation, dies He served in these roles until 2022, when Jane Lipton Cafritz, his wife, was elected Board Chair and President and CEO. Calvin Cafritz, a successful businessman, was involved in real estate for more than fifty years. If youre in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist. All three sons were rumored to have difficult relationships with their mother, and it was rare to find them together, bearing in unison the family standard. It is intriguing to imagine what different directions Conrad Cafritz might urge -- and how much they would draw from the activism of his wife, who has likely pondered what difference the Cafritz endowment might make to her lifelong campaign to wrest the arts from Washington's white upper classes. "With so-called friends all around her, she was a very lonely woman," says Dowling. It charges that Rogers and Atlas "exerted undue influence" on her decision to leave all her money to the Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, and that Gwendolyn herself "lacked testamentary capacity," meaning that she was incapable of writing her will. Rachel M. Ratowsky Obituary ", While she cultivated the mighty, Morris looked closer to home, helping to found the Washington Community Chest, becoming an activist in local Jewish groups. ", High culture was one of her chosen routes to acceptance. Two and a half years later Gwendolyn Cafritz was dead of cancer, at 78, and the following summer -- three years after that final party -- her two younger sons filed suit in D.C. Superior Court to. Giving to charity is a meaningful way to honor someone who has died. But almost no one noticed what seemed apparent to Gore Vidal, in brief glimpses of her during the '60s: "Toward the end {of the decade}, she was always drunk whenever I saw her. Then there is the charitable legacy. ON JUNE 10, 1986, GWENDOLYN D. CAFRITZ GAVE HER LAST PARTY. "She felt that was the end, when she couldn't function socially.". . His faith was great enough to lead him into investments that would later seem visionary: He developed the Temple Heights tract at Connecticut and Florida, for example, buying the land in 1945 with developer Charles H. Tompkins and sitting on it for 12 years before selling the northern part for development of the Washington Hilton, and building the two Universal Buildings on the southern part of the site. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation. But like all wills, the one now known in probate court as 3035-88 offers more than one legacy, and thus more than one motive. It is hard to imagine, in this competitive atmosphere, that a single person could have dominated the field as Morris Cafritz once did. "Conrad was persistent as hell in getting that project," says one person familiar with Conrad's business. Md.-based government contractor relocates headquarters to Fairfax Co. Montgomery County, MD Files Lawsuit Against McKinsey and Company, Inc. for Companys Role in Creating Opioid Epidemic, GSA Seeks Commercial Procurement Data Solution. These two, according to the complaint by Carter and Conrad Cafritz, "exerted undue influence" in Gwendolyn's decision to leave her entire estate to the foundation, of which they are both trustees. He may sometimes have yearned for recognition: One night, after one of the glamorous dinners, he drew a friend of Gwendolyn's away from the dining room and into the kitchen. . He has always been involved in the bread and butter real estate of housing, from building single-family homes in Prince William County to renovating apartment complexes in Alexandria; he was a major beneficiary of the Washington condo boom. Rachel M. Ratowsky, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Tuesday, February 2, 2021. Send simple, comforting meals with Home Chef. The same plain white damask draped the table, with plain white damask napkins tied around settings of her heavy Georg Jensen flatware. Power List 2010: DC Family Dynasties - Washington Life Magazine James Edward Cafritz <p>James Edward Cafritz of Bethesda, MD, passed away on Tuesday, December 22, 2020, at the age of 90. About - The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation The trust was established at the death of Morris Cafritz in June 1964 in the interests of saving estate taxes. Perhaps one day Calvin, or Conrad, or some Cafritz now unknown, will find a way to bring together the opposite forms of ambition that thrived in this house, and give a second start to the dynasty that never was. Remembering Calvin Cafritz - The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation Conrad and his first wife entertained often in their Georgetown house in the '60s, giving parties -- often liberal fund-raisers -- that offered cozy intimations of radical chic. Unless you are experienced as an estate executor, you probably should hire an attorney. Here, still, was the art moderne house, nearly as startling in 1986 as it had been when Morris Cafritz built it for his young family almost 50 years earlier. The holdings in downtown Washington include buildings in the 1700 and 1800 blocks of K Street and a parking lot at 12th and K; buildings in the 1300 and 1600 blocks of L Street; property in the 1600, 1700 and 1800 blocks of I Street. He was "greatly respected and liked, even in an antisemitic society," recalls Dixon. Beginning with single-family houses, moving on to apartment houses and office buildings, he managed to dodge the Depression and was well positioned to preside over the city's transforming boom during and after World War II (see box, Page 20). He was 91 years of age. The longtime GW supporter had a unique relationship with the university and the city of Washington, D.C. Center for Excellence in Public Leadership, Honey W. Nashman Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service, GW is committed to digital accessibility. Upon Morris Cafritz's death in 1964, he became president of the Cafritz Co.; and in the first will Gwendolyn wrote, in 1969, which included all three sons, she made Calvin an executor and left him the Foxhall Road house. Calvin Cafritz Obituary The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation has Died January 17, 2023 Calvin Cafritz Death, Obituary - Calvin Cafritz, the eldest son of Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz, died Thursday at Sibley Memorial Hospital. Their differences were, in fact, a part of their legend, for they were one of the earliest families to bring together the two cities on the Potomac: On the one hand was the ethereal world of social and political Washington -- her world, which venerated either good birth or a seat in the Senate; on the other hand was his world, the corporeal city of sewers and streets and buildings and real citizens, men and women who grew up above grocery stores the way Morris Cafritz had. 2000 Pennsylvania Avenue NW He is also survived by his brother Conrad Cafritz, chairman and CEO of Cafritz Interests, a real estate company. To one interviewer she said that art was "the theme, you might say" of her life, "as in a Wagnerian opera." In high school, for example, Conrad stood out even among his privileged classmates at St. Albans. In 2001, the Cafritz Foundation gave $1 million toward the Cafritz Conference Center in the University Student Center. "He got up at 5 or 5:30, and he wanted to show me what a hard-working man he was.". recalls Raymond Carter, a former vice president of the Cafritz Co. "He always had a new job going. One quarter to be divided among his sons, in trusts they would inherit outright at age 35. They had a large fund-raiser for Jesse Jackson in 1988, and for Conrad's 50th birthday, Peggy gave him an enormous black-tie dinner at home. including, but not limited to, any facilities located in Washington, D.C.; Palm Beach, Florida; or Monte Carlo, Monaco." Echovita offers a solidarity program that gives back the funds generated to families. Throughout his career he was recognized not only for his natural intuitive insight but also for his in-depth study and acute analysis of every possibility for investment in real estate. His father, one of Washington's leading commercial and residential builders from the early 1920's to the 1960's, distinguished himself as an outstanding civic leader known for generosity. Calvin Cafritz - Rockville, Maryland , Sagel Bloomfield Danzansky He was for years the president of the Jewish Community Center and donated the land for its first headquarters on Q Street NW. January 12, 2023 The most famous of these was the Cafritz Building, at 1625 I; ballyhooed in 1950 as the first "park-at-your-desk" building, it had ramps rising 10 stories at the building's core. In addition to his loving family, he leaves behind a long-time member of the family household, Lilian Punzalan, and countless admiring friends. Calvin's younger brothers, Conrad and Carter, are behind-the- scenes players in many business and charitable ventures players. Calvin Cafritz, D.C. developer and head of the Cafritz Foundation, dies at 91. bizjournals.com - Michael Neibauer 20h. He was an excellent listener and always got both the big picture and important details by asking insightful questions. There is still a sign directing deliveries to the back of the house, as if tradesmen were still streaming up to the front door to importune the lady of the house, and Ridgewell's were due at any moment with more shrimp and cocktail sauce. That task was left to her closest relatives. Gwendolyn Cafritz died of cancer last November. The complaint further asserts that "when Decedent allegedly executed the purported Will and Codicil that have been offered for probate herein, Decedent lacked a sound and disposing mind and was not capable of executing a valid deed or contract. GECS offers business development, bid proposal writing training, and resume preparation services for individuals seeking employment with the Federal Government, and provides knowledge management services to assist businesses with succession planning. Ymelda Dixon, who covered many of her parties for the Evening Star, recalls, "They were great parties, because she had the means and the imagination. By 1967, records show a sprinkling of grants to highbrow cultural causes: the Committee to Rescue Italian Art, the Opera Society of Washington, the Corcoran Gallery. . "For over 30 years the Cafritz Foundation has supported The Textile Museum, especially as a prominent proponent of the museums move to the George Washington University,"said John Wetenhall, director of the George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum. In the '50s, Cafritz had an early conviction that the future direction of downtown Washington was along the K Street corridor, and before his death in 1964 he built a dozen buildings in the "new" downtown, mostly on K and I streets NW. Each is in his second marriage; each is in some way involved in the arts. The D.C. community is better for his engagement and we will miss him terribly.. CAFRITZ SONS WIN ESTATE CHALLENGE - The Washington Post For better or worse, he is the son who has tried to live out both their ambitions -- to build on a scale that will make an impact on the city, and to develop a persona that will make him an actor in the capital. David Kessler's top 4 tips for dealing with holiday grief. By the time of her death, however, Calvin was still the son closest to his mother. Calvin, 58, who finds himself a defendant in this lawsuit, is usually described as gentlemanly, methodical and reserved. There are no events at this time. Money -- to be sure. Obituary | Betty Colvin of Warren, Arkansas | Frazer's Funeral Home And even then, there was always fussing. In the 21st century, it's not just urns and gravestones anymore. Because Gwendolyn's estate has not been probated, its value is hard to establish. In May, Jane Lipton Cafritz hosted a lunch that brought together a number of young opera singers and many of their supporters and admirers. ", Other documents filed in court indicate that the sons will argue their mother was incapacitated by alcoholism. He had emigrated from Russia as a boy with his family, which stopped briefly in New York before settling down to run a grocery store at 24th and P streets NW. It's surprising how much a musical selection can affect mourning. "Lots of times she could drink and she knew exactly what she was doing. CAFRITZ James Edward Cafritz James Edward Cafritz of Bethesda, MD, passed away on Tuesday, December 22, 2020, at the age of 90. He also has three children, five grandchildren and three stepchildren. ", Conrad Cafritz is, in a word fondly used by friends, weird. Distinguished D.C. Government Employees Recognized at Cafritz Awards Gala, Office of Communications & Marketing James Edward Cafritz Obituary Once it was built, he wasn't interested in it.". In any case, he was at least 20 years older than his bride when they married in 1929. Washington Life Magazine: June 2007:WEALTH LIST "Right at the moment he could be most charming, he does something to undercut it," says one friend. They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel. Calvin Cafritz (1931-2023) | The Georgetowner Gwendolyn Cafritz, 78, Washington Hostess - The New York Times At the same time, he and Tompkins had the foresight to buy the land now known as Pentagon City. But public records show that, like any organization privately controlled by a very small number of people, it is very susceptible to change by a determined leader. In the '70s she became a near-recluse. He was 91 years of. The foundation, among Greater Washingtons largest with more than $400 million in assets and some $65 million in annual revenue and expenses, according to its most recent Form 990, is expected to issue a formal statement in the coming days. He was 91 at the time he died. In 1962, when it was the product of Morris Cafritz's vision, the largest grants went to the United Jewish Appeal and the Community Chest Federation. "He just wanted to build, build, build, build!" "I've just bought 100 acres of downtown Washington," he was fond of saying. To offer your sympathy during this difficult time, you can now have memorial trees planted in a National Forest in memory of your loved one. With that philosophy he built a substantial reputation for philanthropy. Peggy, the product of a well-to-do black family from Mobile, Ala., has worked especially at promoting arts in the black community: She almost single-handedly founded the Duke Ellington School for the Arts and was Marion Barry's first chairman of the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities. To Martin Atlas, she left $50,000 and a Chagall painting. "He took me into the kitchen and showed me how the cook would leave coffee for him in the morning," remembers the friend. Influence over the city's future -- no doubt. Real estate was more than mortgages and refi nancing in the Cafritzian heyday; it was empire building . You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or plant a tree in memory of Calvin Cafritz. He died on Thursday, Jan. 12, at age 91. That's what we call a success story. Meanwhile, for as long as it takes, Conrad's childhood home turns a sleeping face to Foxhall Road, drapes drawn at all the windows. If you could walk around to the back, you might look out at the famous view; and you might almost see as far as Southeast D.C., where Morris lies with his in-laws, still waiting. The best poems for funerals, memorial services., and cards. Yet he uncomplainingly supported all of Gwendolyn's efforts, and was said to adore his colorful bride. For one thing, he has a dark, avowedly cynical sense of humor. In 1971, he resigned from the company amid reports of conflict with his mother, and by the time she wrote a 1977 will, all three sons, including Calvin, had been dealt out of any inheritance.
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