Francis Edward Moravitz

02/26/2025 - 08/18/2025

A cherished husband, father, uncle, grandfather and great grandfather, Francis Edward Moravitz previously of Falls Church, VA, passed away peacefully at home amongst family Monday, August 18, 2025. Fran was a devoted family man and accomplished public servant with interests in regional planning, politics, history, world travel, carpentry, fishing, poker, and later, grandparenting, spending time on the Chesapeake Bay, and supporting the arts and environmental causes.
Fran was born on February 26, 1933, in Alexandria, Virginia to Edward and Cecile (Hall) Moravitz. He attended Fairfax High School and later completed a bachelor's degree at the University of Virginia (UVA) in 1956. He held a Bureau Public Administration Fellowship at UVA. After graduation, Fran served in the United States Army and subsequently earned a master's degree in Regional Planning from the University of North Carolina (UNC).
In 1960, Fran married Sally Fan Hanger, who he had met at Fairfax high school. Sally and Fran were married for over 61 years at the time of her death in 2021. Fran and Sally raised three sons in Falls Church Virginia.
Fran was a regional government official and urban planner who directed projects at the North Virginia Regional Plan Commission, assisted Hawaii's first Governor with strategic planning, and worked as an urban planner at HUD. He spent many years in leadership roles at the Appalachian Regional Commission in Washington, DC, and later, in retirement, served over a decade as a Board Member at Appalachian Regional Healthcare, Inc., a regional hospital system.
He helped establish early low-income mortgage programs, improved public infrastructure like highways and hospitals, promoted regional economic development, encouraged strip-mine reclamation legislation and advocated for nurse practitioners in rural healthcare. Fran received a silver medallion service award from the Appalachian Regional Commission and multiple other civic recognitions. He was also honored to participate in the US/Japan Trade Mission in 1979.
Fran was a certified member of the American Planning Association's American Institute Certified Planners (AICP) and an alumnus of Sigma Nu.
Fran is predeceased by his parents, brother Carl and wife Sally. He is survived by his sister Connie Litchford; son Brian (Denise) of Warrenton, VA; son Vic (Micki) of Reston, VA; and son Michael of Fairfax, VA; five grandchildren, Madeline Burnham (John), Jay (Ellen), Claire, Nathan, and Nicole; and two great grandchildren, Amelia and Natalie.
In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to support the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (www.cbf.org ) or the Nature Conservancy (www.nature.org).
A private celebration of life will be held at a future date. Online condolences and fond memories may be offered to the family at