The Don Gavin Page
E-Mail from Mary Abate About Illness (10/15/98)
E-Mail from Mary Abate About Death (10/28/98)
Mary Abate advises as follows:
From: MARY MABATE <*******@hotmail.com>
To: <****@tjtaxlaw.com>
Subject: URGENT -- DON GAVIN
Date: Friday, October 15, 1999 10:03 AM
Jack--Don Gavin is gravely ill with cancer. He is unable to receive visitors or phone calls, but his wife Diane believes that he would
appreciate receiving notes from friends/colleagues, particularly any reminiscing about old times. Because he is so ill, it would be best not to
call the family. The address is:
Donald J. Gavin
4314 Dahill Place
Alexandria, Virginia 22312
Please add this message to your Tax Div. Alumni News as soon as possible.
Thanks very much.
Mary Abate
E-Mail from Mary About About Death
From: MARY MABATE <******@hotmail.com>
To: <*****@tjtaxlaw.com>; <taxdivalumni@egroups.com>
Cc: <********@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: DON GAVIN
Date: Thursday, October 28, 1999 11:54 AM
10/28/99
Jack, et al.--I am very sorry to tell you that Don Gavin died this morning. Deputy AAG Claire Fallon informed Division personnel by e-mail today in
which she particularly noted Don's courage throughout his illness and how
much he will be missed, personally and professionally, by us all. I will let you know details of funeral arrangements as soon as we receive notice.
Mary Abate
From: Claire Fallon
To: arrange
Date: 10/29/99 2:31pm
Subject: Arrangements for Don
All, Diane has called and said that the wake for Don will be this Sunday at the Demaine Funeral Home, 5308 Backlick Road, Springfield, Virginia. The hours are from 3:30pm to 5:30pm and from 7:00pm to 9:00pm.
Demaine may be reached by taking 395 South. Take the Edsall Road exit West. Edsall Road dead ends into Backlick. Go left onto Backlick. Demaine will be immediately to your right.
The funeral Mass will take place Tuesday at 10:00am at the Queen of Apostles Church which is located at 4329 Sano Street, Alexandria.
The Church is a mile or so from the Route 236 West (Little River Turnpike) exit of 395 South. Immediately upon exiting, watch for the sign to Quantrell Street. Go right onto Quantrell and take it to the end. At the stop sign, make a left onto Beauregard. Go to the second right, and take a right onto Lincolnia. Go about a half mile and turn right onto Sano. The Church is three or four blocks on the right.
Following the Mass, there will be a procession to the Fairfax Memorial cemetary at 9900 Braddock Road.
There will be two charitable funds mentioned in tomorrow's Washington Post for those wishing to make contributions in memory of Don. I will order flowers to be sent from Don's friends in the Tax Division.
Please forward this message to whomever you think would want this information.
Claire
Bill Roberts (10/15/99):
"Don was the best mentor I had at Justice. A great guy and a great teacher."
Len Henzke (10/28/99):
Please keep me informed of the arrangements for Don's funeral. Don was a model gentleman in many ways. He was a hard-working and dedicated lawyer who gave his all in helping to administer the tax laws in a just and efficient manner. He was an outstanding father and husband, who would make any sacrifice for his elderly parents, his wife, and his children. He spent a great deal of time working to help his church. Best of all, Don was a good friend who was always interested and concerned about the activities and problems of others. I am proud to have worked with him as a colleague and a friend. Len Henzke.
Loretta Argrett (AAG) Memorandum to Attorneys
To All Tax Division Employees
From: Loretta Argrett
Assistant Attorney General
Subject: Donald Gavin
It is with great sadness that I report a much cherished member of the Tax Division Family, Donald Gavin, passed away this morning. Don worked for the Tax Division for 31 years. He was an extremely talented litigator known across the Division for both his legal gifts and friendly and open demeanor.
Don handled many of the Tax Division's most important and visible cases as one of our Special Litigation Counsels. In fact, earlier this year, the Attorney General presented Don with a John Marshall Award for Distinguished Service recognizing Don's myriad and notable contributions to the Department of Justice.
Although Don was highly respected as an exceptional lawyer, he will be remembered as much for his delightful personality as for his outstanding legal ability. We were blessed by Don's presence in the Tax Division and our prayers go out to his family during this time of sorrow.