Bundren

Marianne Gavlak Bundren

Marianne Gavlak Bundren passed away Sunday, July 3, 2022, from complications due to her ongoing battle with uterine cancer. Born May 11, 1964 in Jacksonville, Florida, Marianne graduated from West Springfield High School and was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate from her beloved Virginia Tech. After completing law school at the University of Virginia, she enjoyed an esteemed career in commercial real estate law originally at McGuire, Woods, then the Mills Corporation, and most recently, Costco. Marianne loved all things centered around her friends and family, particularly cycling, gardening, the English Premier League, skiing, and travel. Marianne is survived by her beloved husband Dave Bundren, her devoted parents Capt. Michael and Marlene Gavlak, her loving siblings Margery Pratt (Scott), Michele Krisko (Ken), and Michael Gavlak, Jr. (Kelly), her sons David, Jay, and Sam, and countless more family, friends, and loved ones. Her funeral will take place Tuesday, July 12, at 11 a.m. at St. John Neumann Church, 11900 Lawyers Road, Reston, VA. Arrangements are being provided by Adams-Green Funeral Home and more information is available at https://adamsgreen.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Marianne's memory to the Memorial Sloane Kettering Gynecological Sarcoma Research Fund at https://giving.mskcc.org/support-gynecologic-cancer-research-msk

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Published by The Washington Post on Jul. 8, 2022.

Memories and Condolences
for Marianne Bundren

10 Entries

Nancy Andrews

July 3, 2023

I can't believe it's been a year. We all miss Marianne so much! We are all still learning how to cope with this new normal. Marianne would be so proud of Dave and her boys.

Tom and Diane Egan

July 12, 2022

Dave and family,

Our thoughts are with you and your family. We heard the sad news and remembered a fun party you and Marianne organized when our families were younger.

Jeff and Heather Ishida

Planted Trees

Rainey Astin

July 10, 2022

I can´t stop writing tributes to this strong, smart and thoughtful woman, but I have not yet written about how she mentored me as a young lawyer. I was very lucky. Somehow, she found her way to me way, way back in 1997 when I first moved to Washington and started my legal career. She invited me to lunch one day, and we met at a saloon bar in Georgetown (which was more her vibe than The Palm), and she tried to get me to join her and do leasing for The Mills Corp. I was too new to real estate to say yes, but she remembered me, and darn if I was not there at Mills with her five years later. I was an ok lawyer at the time but Marianne made me a better one because she made it ok to admit what I didn´t know, and she took the time to talk through legal concepts, to ask why and why not, and not to get frustrated when a thought started to run in a circle or to stop making sense. She would pick up at 180 or where you last made sense and say "ok here´s where we started churning the butter" and then walk you through the right result with a question at the end of "does this sound, right?" (Yes, of course; it always did - every time it was a master class). She often said "don´t let perfect be the enemy of good" and "tell me again, why CAN´T I give on this point". In a sticky deal about to die, she would say, "let´s think about who has the leverage here; a bad deal might be a great deal given the circumstances - like the deal you need to get/keep occupancy on a loan or a co-tenancy." She was graceful when you made a mistake which made you want to talk to her all the time. And the more you talked to her, the more you learned. She gave people the benefit of the doubt. Always. She was an amazing mentor and colleague to so many in the real estate community, and she will be greatly missed.

Derek Heed

July 8, 2022

I got to know Marianne through Costco projects. She was an absolute joy to work with. I could tell, based on our conversations, she was an amazing person. I wish I had the opportunity to meet her in person. Please accept my condolences for your loss.

Mike Stratis

July 8, 2022

My deepest sympathies to the friends and family of Marianne. I had the pleasure of working with her over the years on Costco matters and was overwhelmed with her friendliness, disarming demeanor and brilliance. We shared many stories about our families and travel and enjoyed a lot of laughter in the course of our shared work. Blessings to her.

Karen Mikulski

Planted Trees

Gail Fargason

July 8, 2022

Dear Bundren and Gavlak Families,

I worked on Costco projects in Georgia with Marianne for many years. She was compassionate, strong and diligent. She negotiated with an incredibly sweet demeanor and bulldog resolve - not easy to do. Everything about Marianne instilled love and respect. She will be truly missed.

Please accept my condolences for your loss.

Gail Fargason - The Shopping Center Group, Atlanta, GA

Bryan Saltsgaver

July 8, 2022

I worked with Marianne at The Mills Corporation and can honestly say she was universally adored by everyone who worked there. Funny, always happy to see you and kind. My condolences to her family. I know there is a gaping hole in your lives right now

Gena Snyder

July 8, 2022

I always enjoyed our rides to work from Reston and Leesburg with Marianne!! Your memory will live on in every ride and every chuckle that is experienced in the future!

To Marianne´s family - Please accept my most heartfelt condolences on the loss of Marianne. May the many memories you have of her, fill your heart with warmth and bring smiles for years to come. She was a wonderful woman and her legacy will live on through us all!

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