Lori Godwin began her career in Alexandria as a young budget analyst and made her way steadily through the ranks to become assistant city manager for operations. When she died on March 10, after a brief illness, she left a void that will be hard to fill. She was 41 years old.
Godwin was born in 1960, in Berwyn, IL. Even as a Catholic schoolgirl, she worked for change. In sixth grade, she circulated a petition to stop Beatle, John Lennon, from being deported. She wrote a paper on the subject and, even though her teacher disagreed with her point of view, she got an A.
As a student at the University of Illinois, she became involved in civil rights issues. “I became very involved in the last-ditch efforts to get the Equal Rights Amendment for women passed in Illinois,” she said in an interview last year. “From there, it wasn’t a big leap to get involved with other civil rights issues.”
She earned her bachelor’s degree in English and anthropology and a master’s degree in public administration. She came to Washington to work as a Research Associate at the Urban Institute and from there, went to work at Wider Opportunities for Women, a nonprofit advocacy organization. “I always wanted to work in local government and when I saw that there was an opening in Alexandria in the budget office, I applied,” she said.
She felt that working in local government would give her the opportunity to have a real impact. As the director of the city’s Office of Management and Budget, she was often the only woman at regional and national meetings. She represented the city very well, according to Mayor Kerry J. Donley.
“Lori was the consummate professional who certainly would have been a city manager some day, either in Alexandria or in some other community,” Donley said. “Her death has left us all shocked. She made many contributions to the city and was a close friend to staff, Council members and other professionals throughout the community. We will all miss her very much.”
Godwin worked an average of 12 hours a day. In what little spare time she had, she loved to spend time with her husband, Kurt, and their animals; to cook, to read and to watch movies. She could barbecue anything, and frequently did.
“She didn’t smile very often, but when she did, it was incredibly beautiful,” said Councilwoman Claire Eberwein. “We will all miss her.”
Councilman Bill Euille worked with Godwin on many projects. “She was very good at her job and was one of the most dedicated professionals I have ever met,” he said. “It is hard to believe that she isn’t here.”
Godwin is survived by her husband, her mother and two brothers. There will be visitation on Thursday, March 14, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Demaine Funeral Home, 520 S. Washington Street. Friends and family are invited.