Longtime affordable housing leader Conrad Egan died June 9 at his home in Oakton, Virginia. He was 83.
His many roles included serving as president and CEO of the National Housing Conference (NHC) in Washington, D.C. Prior to taking the helm at NHC, he was executive director of the Millennial Housing Commission, established by Congress to evaluate and strengthen federal affordable housing strategies, in 2001.
Courtesy Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority
Conrad Egan
Earlier in his career, the Ohio native worked at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), including acting as special assistant to then-secretary Henry Cisneros.
In an interview with Affordable Housing Finance, he cited two key accomplishments at the agency. The first: HUD’s rapid response to the victims of the Northridge, California, earthquake in 1994. The second: the creation of Neighborhood Networks, a program to help residents at affordable housing projects with career development.
“Conrad was a valued colleague and friend,” says Michael Bodaken, former head of the National Housing Trust. “When I first moved to Washington, D.C., it was Conrad who introduced me to the housing community. He tirelessly walked with me while lobbying on Capitol Hill. More than once, he convinced a housing staffer that a HUD program should be saved. We once made a trip to Pittsburgh together, with Conrad driving while I slept. We passed a farm and Conrad exclaimed, ‘Barn!’ I awoke with a start. Years later, he sent me a handmade matchbox shaped like a barn. That was pure Conrad. His grace, wisdom, and appreciation for life will be sorely missed.”
While Egan was involved in shaping national policy, he was also active at the local level, including serving as chairman of the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority in Virginia.
He was inducted into Affordable Housing Finance’s Hall of Fame in 2008, followed a few years later by Bodaken. Known for his wide network and deep connections, Egan enthusiastically offered suggestions for future honorees.
After retiring from full-time work, he continued serving as senior adviser to the Affordable Housing Institute, a nonprofit impact consultancy dedicated to improving affordable housing ecosystems around the world.
Egan is survived by his wife, Carol Egan; his daughter, Kat Egan; his son, Michael Egan; and his sister, Marilyn Egan Bokor, and brother-in-law, Mike Bokor. He also leaves behind many dear friends, colleagues, and mentees across the country.
Read more about Egan here.
