The Cafritz Foundation is also a longtime supporter of GWs Honey W. Nashman Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service. 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. In Memoriam: Calvin Cafritz. But its true targets are two longtime advisers who are executors of her estate: Martin Atlas, for decades the closest business associate of both Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz, and William P. Rogers, the former attorney general and secretary of state who was Gwendolyn's personal attorney. The best poems for funerals, memorial services., and cards. "He took me into the kitchen and showed me how the cook would leave coffee for him in the morning," remembers the friend. He began with houses, ultimately building about 10,000 homes in the Washington area. One interrogatory demands that Riggs National Bank, which was Gwendolyn's bank, "identify all individuals or facilities that, from 1954 until Gwendolyn Cafritz' death, provided to Gwendolyn Cafritz any care, advice, counseling, or treatment relating to her consumption of alcohol . He too has denied the sons' allegations in his formal answer to their complaint. Authorize the publication of the original written obituary with the accompanying photo. Several friends read this changeability as part of a larger ambivalence about whether he wants to be an insider or a maverick, heir to a famous tradition or the rebel who subverts it. So if some of these nostalgic callers had once doubted or mocked her, with her grand house and her grand airs and her husband's enormous fortune, it was surely too late, in 1986, for any of these social acquaintances to want to shatter this fading legend. (91 years old). Here, beyond the threshold, was the stunning circular entrance hall, dramatic enough to live up to the woman who once swept down the stairs to greet her guests. Echovita Inc is a registered trademark. ", Conrad and Carter Cafritz have chosen instead the purgatory of probate court, where their complaints suggest less lovely memories. Chances are, many Washingtonians might not even realize how much real estate the Cafritz family is responsible for in the area. 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. 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. The Washington Harbour purchase, along with a current joint venture to develop a riverfront office and hotel project in Rosslyn, has caused speculation that Conrad Cafritz is increasingly eager to be identified with high-quality, high-profile projects that might bring him more notice. 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. Calvins brother Carter passed away in 2019. She could no longer make an entrance, of course. Another asks the bank to produce "all documents relating to purchase or provision of wine, champagne, or liquor on behalf of or for Gwendolyn Cafritz or for delivery to or consumption at 2301 Foxhall Road. He is also survived by his brother Conrad Cafritz, chairman and CEO of Cafritz Interests, a real estate company. He was 91. With such a ruling, the trust would pass to the three sons, as outlined in Morris's will. The daughter of a Hungarian immunologist who had a role in devising the early Wasserman test to detect syphilis, Gwen Cafritz was the opposite of her husband. 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. "Old Washington was very antisemitic, as you know," continues Vidal, whose childhood here as the stepson of lawyer and investor Hugh D. Auchincloss and the grandson of Oklahoma Sen. Thomas Gore gave him an intimate education in Washington society. They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel. Between 1925 and 1941, Cafritz built more than 85 apartment houses, including 15 large luxury buildings, such as the Majestic and the Hightowers on 16th Street NW and the Westchester on Cathedral Avenue NW. He died on Thursday, Jan. 12, at age 91. Rogers, an attorney general under President Eisenhower and secretary of state under Richard Nixon, declined to be interviewed for this story; he has denied the allegations in papers filed in court. It asks the court to rule that under Morris's will, which gave Gwendolyn the right to leave the trust to "such person or persons" as she wished, the foundation -- technically a corporation -- could not qualify to receive the trust. You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or plant a tree in memory of Calvin Cafritz. She also made bequests of $100,000 each to 10 of her 13 grandchildren -- excluding the children Conrad adopted, to whom he has remained a committed father. 91. But of the property over which she had control, Gwendolyn left her children only "such photographs, family mementos, and similar objects of domestic use or ornamentation as my executors, in their absolute discretion, shall determine that I would wish to have preserved for my children.". And other times she didn't. He died on Thursday, Jan. 12, at age 91. Senator Barry Goldwater . ", While she cultivated the mighty, Morris looked closer to home, helping to found the Washington Community Chest, becoming an activist in local Jewish groups. He was for years the president of the Jewish Community Center and donated the land for its first headquarters on Q Street NW. Special Neighborhood Hang Out: Say Cheese! For some people, the best send-off is one that they would have loved to attendthemselves: a big party. Morris had one vision, and Gwendolyn another; whoever now gains control might offer still a third. Since 1989, Cafritz led the Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, a charitable organization named for his parents. They're more like the French salons.". Ridgewell's had produced, out of retirement, the same waiter who had announced the guests eight years before. There he built the massive River House apartments; his estate eventually sold most of the land for others to develop. Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you. Yet he uncomplainingly supported all of Gwendolyn's efforts, and was said to adore his colorful bride. 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. Old press notices, written in the uncritical fashion of the day, recount her summers in Monte Carlo; her typical day in Washington (beginning with a ride in her limousine -- license number 2301, to match her address -- to the Supreme Court or the Capitol, to take in a decision or an interesting hearing); her winter trips to Palm Beach; her shopping trips in Paris; her ladies lunches at the Mayflower Hotel. Read more on bizjournals.com. Yet in Morris's absence, the family was anything but the tight-knit dynasty he had paved the way for. 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. Once grown, the sons established limited, perfunctory contacts with their mother. When he died, his estate would be the largest ever probated in the District of Columbia; it would take teams of lawyers and IRS agents four years to settle the estate, finally valued in 1968 at $66 million. 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. "She was a classic case," summarizes Vidal. 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." . Home But Gwendolyn sometimes took pains to tell friends that she herself was not Jewish. Calvin Cafritz and the Cafritz Foundation have been part of the GW Honey Nashman Center from its earliest roots in the Office of Community Service and the Neighbors Project in the 1990s through to the present, said Amy Cohen, executive director of the center. Leave a sympathy message to the family in the guestbook on this memorial page of Calvin Cafritz to show support. Cafritz was a native and longtime resident of Washington, DC. Waiters passed shrimp with cocktail sauce, while full bars offered prehistoric spirits such as bourbon and gin, defiant holdouts in the age of chardonnay and bottled water. Kateryna Pyatybratova directs the centers Cafritz Awards program. 2000 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Each is in his second marriage; each is in some way involved in the arts. It's surprising how much a musical selection can affect mourning. Cafritz started by investing in real estate, and was always ready to make a prescient purchase, but his true passion was construction. She has pressured the Smithsonian to increase the number of minorities in high-ranking positions and has been arrested outside the South African Embassy as a leader of Mother's Day protests there. She was born January 30, 1936 in Kennett, MO to the late David Richard Roberts and Betty Burbank Roberts. "She was good to me, and she was a good woman in my eyes," he says. What do the younger sons of the celebrated Washington hostess hope to gain by waging legal war over their mother's will? And he still fights his battles with a surprising intensity, rarely bothering with the shake-hands-and-forget-it bonhomie common in Washington business. Mild, self-effacing, decorous, humble, and unfailingly courteous, Mr. Cafritz led by example and always with a smile. ", Conrad Cafritz is, in a word fondly used by friends, weird. ", The Cafritzes slept in separate bedrooms, Morris rising at dawn to get to the office. The George Washington University community is remembering the life of Calvin Cafritz, a businessman, philanthropist and longtime supporter of GW. Your email address will not be published. There are no events at this time. 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. To plant trees in memory, please visit the. All three stayed in Washington to work at some variation of their father's trade. In Remembrance. 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. Yet Morris made little impression on Gwendolyn's social world, and she often went out or took vacations alone. He has assembled a group of about 14 local hotels, including the Georgetown Inn and One Washington Circle. After college and military service, he rejoined the firm in 1956 and served in various positions, until the death of his father in 1964 when he became President of Cafritz Company, Cafritz Construction Company, and Ambassador, Inc. During his tenure, the companies developed, constructed, and leased a number of additional office buildings in Washington's central business district. Keep supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker. He left it as follows: Half to the Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation. Conrad has six children -- three adopted sons, who were Jennifer's by a first marriage; two daughters with Jennifer; and, with Peggy, 5-year-old Zachary. Or purchase a subscription for unlimited access to real news you can count on. When he died, his estate was the largest ever probated in the District of Columbia. Mr. But it was a heady enough wine to call out 300 guests, and the ghosts of many more who had preceded them. D.C. developer, businessman and philanthropist Calvin Cafritz, the eldest son of real estate icon Morris Cafritz and his wife Gwendolyn, died Thursday at Sibley Memorial Hospital. He often conveyed his conviction that believing in a cause obligated one to support it financially. The judge's decision, though in favor of Conrad and Carter Cafritz, is of little. Gwendolyn Cafritz, a leading Washington hostess, died of cancer Tuesday at her home in the capital. Add a photo or a video I hope they will. He was 91. ", As is often true when the secretive disease of alcoholism is combined with the see-no-evil sociability of Washington, Gwendolyn's problem was rarely recognized. Calvin Cafritz began his career with Cafritz Construction in 1947, pausing briefly to attend college and serve in the military. 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 have her will overturned and her estate, worth at least $140 million, divided among her children. At the same time, he and Tompkins had the foresight to buy the land now known as Pentagon City. In Washington, D.C., when Irene Bloch's husband dies, a character says, "We should build him a monument, and dedicate it to the Unknown Husband. Receive obituaries from the city or cities of your choice. "I make no other provision in this will for the benefit of my children," it states, "as their financial needs are adequately provided for" by the old agreement giving them $7 million each. Rogers had served as her personal attorney since her husband, Washington real estate magnate Morris Cafritz, died in 1964. 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. If you experience a barrier that affects your ability to access content on this page, let us know via the. Gradually, he branched into entertainment, operating the first open-air movies in Washington (a matter of setting up chairs in vacant lots), and then a bowling alley and pool hall in Southeast, near the Navy Yard. He was 91 years of. In the '70s she became a near-recluse. Another longtime beneficiary of Cafritz Foundation support has been The Textile Museum. When the Duke and Duchess of Windsor came and danced downstairs in "the Club," with the dance floor lighted from below. Her two younger sons have also filed a separate petition that pursues only the marital trust. We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time. "He's creative, he's smart, also ambitious, like his father. Cafritz is survived by his third wife, Jane Lipton Cafritz, a Washington lawyer whom he married in 2000; his three children; three stepchildren (including Olivia Rubenstein, who earned a masters degree from GSEHD in 2018); and numerous grandchildren and step-grandchildren, as well as his brother, Conrad Cafritz, chairman and CEO of Cafritz Interests. 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. "She was not, as they say, invited anywhere at the beginning," recalls Gore Vidal, whose novel Washington, D.C. includes a character "suggested," he says, by Gwendolyn Cafritz. Conrad is angrily aware, say friends, that his success will always be explained away. 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.
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