Louis Mortimer, Jr.

Louis Read Mortimer, Jr.

Captain, U.S. Navy Reserve

May 24, 1941 – February 21, 2021

Louis Read Mortimer, Jr. (Lou) passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 21, 2021, surrounded by loving family – including Margaret, his wife and soulmate of over 42 years, and his three sons David, Andrew, and Read. A Renaissance man, Lou was an officer, a gentleman, and a scholar who took great pride in his naval and academic careers, but above all else he was a family man. In many ways, Lou was ahead of his time in so freely expressing his affection and love for his wife, children, and in the diverse friendships he enjoyed. From a very young age, Lou embraced a panorama of interests – literature, art, history and sport – and in his retirement years often unassumingly described himself as a bon vivant and raconteur.

Lou was born in Philadelphia in 1941 and named after his father, the youngest captain in the Philadelphia Fire Department, who died in the line of duty when Lou was only 13 years old. Lou was necessarily thrust into great responsibility at a young age, helping his beloved mother, Eleanor, and his grandmother, Nanny, at home with his three younger siblings (brother Frank, and sisters Eileen and Carol) as the four of them grew to adulthood.

An excellent student, Lou graduated from Central High School before heading to college with the support of the HERO Scholarship Fund he received as a result of his father’s tragic death. Lou valued education and learning, earning numerous degrees: two Bachelor’s (Central High School and Temple University), three Master’s degrees (Penn State University, University of Illinois, and George Washington University), and a Ph.D. in American Studies from George Washington University. All three of his sons were imbued with this same sense of intellectual curiosity. Lou was ever-proud of his family’s educational and professional accomplishments.

Lou enlisted in the Naval Reserve at the age of 17 later attending the Navy’s Aviation Officer Candidate School (AOCS) where he earned his commission in 1965. Lou made two extended 11-month combat deployments from 1967-1969 on the U.S.S. Coral Sea and the U.S.S. Ticonderoga during the Vietnam War. Lou left active duty after the Ticonderoga cruise, but remained in the Navy Reserves, rising to the rank of Captain with two command tours, retiring with over 35 years of Navy service.

When he was not with his Navy Reserve Intelligence Units, Lou worked at the Library of Congress which he joined in 1970 as a Special Recruit to its intern program, beginning his career in the Congressional Research Service (CRS) where he held various posts before moving on to be Executive Officer of the Research Services Department, Director of Personnel and Labor Relations, Chief of the Federal Research Division, and Chief Operating Officer for the U.S. Copyright Office. Additionally, he served on the board of the Library of Congress Federal Credit Union.

While working at the Library of Congress, Lou met Margaret Whitlock, whom he married in 1978. These two soulmates were inseparable for 42 years, enjoying frequent trips to England (both were Anglophiles), every major art exhibition in Washington for the last 40 years, poetry readings at the Library of Congress, ballet at the Kennedy Center, and theatre at the Folger and Arena Stage; as well as quiet times together at home – reading aloud, watching old movies, and relaxing Sunday afternoons with his family and their ever-present family dog(s). At the time of his death, Lou and Margaret were splitting time between their River Creek community in Leesburg, VA, and their Echo Lake community in Malvern, PA.

In addition to being survived by his wife, Margaret, and three sons – David (Adrienne), Andrew, and Read (J’lene), he was also blessed with six grandchildren – two girls (Giuliana and Mia) and four boys (Harrison, Read, Carter, and Braydon) – and their dog Sunshine.  Lou uniquely had many affectionate nicknames for those he loved as they did for him.  All will miss “Grampy,” “Baba-Lou,” or “Big D(ada)” as his “grands” lovingly referred to their grandfather.  Lou is also survived by his three younger siblings, Francis (Frank) Mortimer and wife Val, Eileen M. Sichel and husband Richard, and Carol (Petroski) Fravel and husband Ken, as well as ten nieces and nephews, and a number of lifelong friends.

Lou actively supported many charitable organizations, which included Shriners Hospital for Children, Boulder Crest Foundation, America’s VetDogs, Tunnel to Towers, and of special relevance to his family, the Alzheimer’s Association.  Lou was a tenacious fighter and to the end battled to overcome the ill effects of dementia.  Friends wishing to make a donation in Lou’s name may wish to contribute to one of these groups.

Funeral and inurnment are planned for Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.