Oliver E. H. Gasch ’28

Oliver Gasch died July 6, 1999, in Washington, D.C., after heart surgery. He was appointed judge of the U.S. District Court by Pres. Lyndon Johnson in 1965, serving 16 years and then after semi-retirement serving 14 more years as a senior judge. The Washington Post mentions dozens of his high-profile cases and says in part " . . . his decisions cut a broad swath across the workings of the city, its businesses and citizens, and affected the day-to-day operations of the federal government . . . Gasch was known in legal circles for his long working hours and prolific but concise judicial decisions . . . "

Oliver earned his law degree from George Washington U., attending classes at night. In 1937 he was named to the D.C. Corporation Counsel's office. After serving with the rank of lt. col. in the Army during WWII, he was appointed principal assistant U.S. attorney for the District, and later as the U.S. attorney from 1956-61. In private practice before his judicial appointment in 1965, he served as president of the D.C. Bar Assn. Oliver was chancellor of the Episcopal Diocese in D.C., and a vestryman at St. Alban's Episcopal Church, where his memorial service was held. He was a director of the Landon School for Boys, president of the Reserve officers Assn. of D.C., and a member of the Military Order of the Caribou, the Chevy Chase Club, and University Club. In 1942 he married Sylvia Meyer, who became principal harpist in the National Symphony Orchestra. They have one son, Michael. The class extends deepest sympathy to them both.

The Class of 1928