Morris cafritz biography

Real estate developer, and philanthropist

Morris Cafritz (c. 1888 - June 13, 1964) was a Washington, D.C. real estate developer, and philanthropist. As CEO of the Cafritz Company, he was Washington, D.C.'s largest private developer from the late 1920's to the early 1960's.

Early life and education

Cafritz was born to Jewish parents, Nathan and Anna Cafritz, in the Russian Empire (Lithuania).^[1] Based on papers filed in court, Cafritz was born in 1888; however, the year of his birth is not known and Cafritz had often understated his age.^[2] Along with his 4 siblings—Sarah, Carrie, Edwin and William—he was brought to the United States by his parents in 1898. After briefly settling in New York, the family moved to Washington and operated a small grocery store on 24th and P Streets NW.^[2] Cafritz scouted the Maine Avenue Fish Market for fish for the store and sold newspapers on 15th Street, near the United States Department o