Mr. George Gould, a 1961 graduate of Cheltenham High School and founder of the housing unit at Community Legal Services in Philadelphia, passed away on Sunday, June 28, at Abington Hospital after a long illness. He was 83.

An Elkins Park native, Mr. Gould played football at Cheltenham High School and Muhlenberg College, where he majored in history, his obituary said. He went on to graduate from Dickinson School of Law, after which he joined Community Legal Services in 1970.

From his obituary:

In a landmark case in the 1970s, Mr. Gould went up against Mayor Frank Rizzo with Stein and Richard Nixon‘s housing department. He and his teammates proved in court that the mayor’s intent to block public housing from the overwhelmingly white South Philly neighborhood was racially motivated.

Their victory got 120 homes built in Whitman after over a decade of delay.

From Community Legal Services’ memorial post:

Those who knew George know that he was a giant in the legal profession. He was a fierce advocate who never backed down, but he was also incredibly caring and kind. He was someone who went out of his way to put a smile on someone’s face, and he was also known for his courage and tenacity in all that he did.

Even if you weren’t fortunate enough to know George personally, you likely know his work. George founded CLS’s Housing Unit in the 1970s and continued to lead the unit as managing attorney for decades, ultimately preventing eviction and unsafe housing conditions for thousands and thousands of Philadelphia tenants. His remarkable work led to Philadelphia’s ordinance to protect children from lead poisoning, expanded the creation and safety of public housing, created essential programs to protect homeowners from foreclosure, and paved the way for critical tenants’ rights in Philadelphia and across the country.

His legacy will live on through our ongoing mission to eradicate lead poisoning in children and in all of the families across Philadelphia who are able to live in safe and affordable housing thanks to his courage and determination.

Mr. Gould also served as a mentor for generations of younger lawyers, including Philadelphia Councilmember and 1987 Cheltenham High School graduate Rue Landau, his obituary said.

Services are scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Friday, July 24, at Trinity Memorial Church, 2212 Spruce St., Philadelphia 19103.

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Photo: Community Legal Services