Former MBA General Counsel William Cumberland Passes Away

William E. Cumberland, who served 28 years as Senior Vice President and General Counsel of the Mortgage Bankers Association, passed away on Nov. 29 following a long battle with cancer. He was 80.

Mr. Cumberland was born Sept. 11, 1938 in Washington, D.C. to William and Marion Cumberland. He graduated from Georgetown Preparatory School, Georgetown University and Harvard Law School, Class of 1963. Following a brief period overseas, Mr. Cumberland joined HUD in 1966 as Associate General Counsel, working for Ginnie Mae in development of its mortgage-backed securities program.

Mr. Cumberland joined MBA (then known as the Mortgage Bankers Association of America) in May 1972, serving as a registered lobbyist and working on federal legislation affecting the real estate finance industry. He later became Senior Vice President and General Counsel. He retired in September 2000.

Mr. Cumberland is survived by his wife of 47 years, Clare Hogan Cumberland, and three children, Lisa Baldez (John Carey), Joseph “TJ” Baldez (Martha Baldez), and Kara Cumberland (David Goldberg) and five grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Montgomery Hospice, 1355 Piccard Dr., Ste. 100 Rockville, MD 20850, www.montgomeryhospice.org.