Gordon A. Cavanaugh

Gordon A. Cavanaugh, 93, of Washington, DC, and most recently Bethesda, Maryland, died peacefully on May 26, 2021. Gordon was born April 3, 1928, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the only child of Gordon and Margaret Cavanaugh. He grew up in Philadelphia and graduated high school from the Saint Joseph’s Preparatory. He was a cum laude graduate of Fordham College and graduate of University of Pennsylvania Law school, where he was on the law review.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Joan (McNichol) Cavanaugh, and his children Gordon Cavanaugh (Anne Aganon), Ann Jolly, Sean Cavanaugh (Rima Cohen), and Barbara Phillips (Steve Phillips). He is also survived by his grandchildren Anna Grinshpun (Alex Grinshpun), William Jolly, Samantha Phillips, Ava Cavanaugh, and James Phillips.

He had a big heart and a sense of fun and he shared these generously with family and friends. He reveled in literature and music and sports and conversation. He was not of these times. He was immune to ironic detachment; he was unapologetically passionate and loving. As a former colleague wrote, “He was one of the good souls, and the axis of our world has tilted a little further away from justice in his absence.”

Gordon had a long career providing housing and economic opportunities to our nation’s poorest citizens. In the 1960’s, he was Philadelphia’s housing director, Commissioner of Licenses and Inspections, and an Assistant City Solicitor. As housing director, he simultaneously chaired and was the executive director of the Philadelphia Housing Authority, chaired the Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation, and was administrator of the Relocation Services. Later in his career, he was appointed by President Carter as Administrator of the Farmers Home Administration within the Department of Agriculture. He was general counsel to the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA) for over twenty years while a partner in Reno & Cavanaugh. During this period, he was frequently quoted in major newspapers on issues related to low-income housing and he fought vigorously against funding cuts to public and subsidized housing by multiple administrations and Congresses.

He was the long-time chairman of CHF, International (now known as Global Communities), a nonprofit providing housing and development to low-income persons worldwide. He served a term as Commissioner of the District of Columbia Housing Authority.

He received several awards during his career including the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s Dolbeare Award for Lifetime Service, the ABA’s Forum on Affordable Housing and Community Development’s Michael Scher Award, and an honorary Doctor of Laws from the Delaware Valley College of Science and Agriculture.

In the end, we believe he was comforted by the wisdom he penned and shared with his daughter, Ann, when she first dedicated her life to helping disadvantaged children: “You are learning that the political side that stands for helping poor and otherwise underprivileged people is usually the less popular. The reward in doing the right thing in life is the peace it gives you in the long haul.”

Friends who want to honor Gordon can make a contribution to any organization that improves the lives of the poor and underprivileged. (To Gordon, that definition included some Democratic politicians, but never enough to satisfy him). The family will be making a contribution to the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless.

Please join us in the Celebration of Life for a life well-lived by Gordon Cavanaugh. Your presence will honor his memory. We invite you to share your stories about Gordon.

Open House on Saturday, June 26 from 1:00 to 5:00 at the Rock Creek Mansion, 5417 W. Cedar Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814. Light fare/wine will be served.

Wear your comfortable attire and help us toast this family man and colleague who touched the lives of so many people in so many ways.