Arthur “Art” L. Godi* a REALTOR® from Stockton, California, was the 1996 President of the National Association of REALTORS®.
During his year in office, Godi accomplished many of his legislative, legal, and REALTOR® organization goals. In 1996, NAR launched an educational campaign to inform REALTORS® about the significant role of the REALTORS® Political Action Committee, supported the mortgage interest deduction and ensured that it would remain part of the tax code, lobbied Congress to raise the health insurance deduction for self-employed professionals, and launched customized newsletters to promote good risk-reduction practices. Within the REALTOR® organization, NAR enhanced its credibility as the source of international real estate expertise, and began work on a computerized ''central gateway'' of information from national, state, and local associations.
Godi served on NAR’s Board of Directors from 1978 and the Executive Committee from 1985 to 1997. He also served as a member of NAR’s Internal Operations Committee, Finance Committee, Nominating Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, and CIPS Advisory Group. He was President of the California Association of REALTORS® in 1981. Internationally, Godi was appointed to serve as the Reciprocal Director to Italy for NAR in 1998 and 1999 and for Russia from 2000 thru 2003. He represented the United States at the United Nations World Shelter Conference in Istanbul in 1996.
Godi’s civic involvements include service as chairman of the Real Estate Continuing Education Committee for the California Department of Real Estate and as a member of its advisory committee. He was a member of the North Stockton Rotary Club, served on the Board of Directors of the National Center for Healthy Housing, and supported the arts as a board member for the Stockton Civic Theater group.
Godi was also an experienced teacher. Early in his career, he began teaching courses at the University of the Pacific and San Joaquin Delta College. Godi started the real estate program at Delta and taught Real Estate Principles, a prerequisite for the California Real Estate Exam. He also taught in 22 cities in eight countries of the former Soviet Bloc in Eastern Europe. Other courses Godi has taught include GRI, CRB, CRS, and CIPS. He co-authored the original CRS program and taught the first CRS course.
Godi was Principal Broker at Art Godi, REALTORS® in Stockton, California, which specializes in residential and commercial real estate. He was a graduate of Stanford University. He earned the CRS® designation from Residential Sales Council, CRB from Real Estate Brokerage Managers Council, and GRI. Godi was named top consultant of the first 10 years in the former Soviet Bloc in Eastern Europe and in 1987 was honored as the Outstanding Real Estate Educator in the United States by the National Association of REALTORS®. In 2003, he was awarded the “Hall of Leaders Award,” created by CRB to recognize outstanding leaders and innovators in the industry.
Arthur “Art” Godi, 87, passed away peacefully at the Hospice House of San Joaquin on April 15, 2023.
Source: National Association of REALTORS® Archives
* Deceased