Donald Gordon Obituary

Professor Dr. Donald "Ramon" Gordon 78, died just shy of his 79th birthday on March 20th, 2017, in his home in Durango Colorado, following a battle with cancer. He leaves his companion and wife of 53 years, Sharon Gordon, his son, Brendon Gordon, his daughter, Danue Gordon-Laborde, his youngest daughter, Kate Gordon-Courshon, five grandchildren, and many close friends, family, and students. Born and raised in Montana and Oregon, the son of Harold and Vivian Gordon, he moved to Durango 43 years ago where he began as a Professor of Anthropology at Fort Lewis College, where he also taught Spaceship Earth, and Human Evolution. Before that, he was an anthropology professor at the University of Oklahoma. At the age of five, he almost died of bacterial endocarditis, but he is in the record book as having been the first civilian to be cured, only days from death, using penicillin obtained through the connection his doctor had with the military, before it was available to the general population. After graduating from Medford High School, and receiving the honorary Eagle Scout award, he received a Fulbright Scholarship to college, and ultimately ended up in San Francisco for advanced study at San Francisco State University. This is where he met his wife, Sharon, and discovered his love of anthropology and travelling. He was an environmental visionary as early as the 1970's, and was the first to endorse and advocate for the Durango Recycling Program, and later went on to found the FLC Environmental Center which is still thriving today. He was also instrumental in world population awareness, aids awareness, and the formation of the local farmer's market. He introduced hundreds of students to Mayan, Aztec, and Mexican culture through his annual Mexico innovative month trips. He also travelled in the 80's with his family, on an incredible life-changing cultural journey through India for his sabbatical year to study deforestation in the Himalayas. As a younger man, he loved playing tennis and indoor soccer. He was also an advocate of organic wholesome foods, and loved working in his vegetable garden. He was a founding member of Durango Natural Foods, and was also a founding member of the Unitarian Universalist Church. After retirement, he wrote a book about Montana entitled Homestead Dreams. He was an adventurer and loved skiing and hiking, having hiked many of the tallest mountains in the area. He was a devoted father and husband, and wholeheartedly supported his children through their educational processes. For those people who would like to honor him, a foundation has been set up in his name through the Environmental Center at Fort Lewis College, and a plaque honoring Don will be on the wall outside the center. In lieu of flowers and other gifts, a fund entitled the "Dr. Don Gordon Fund to Benefit the Fort Lewis College Environmental Center" has been set up within the FLC Foundation. This fund will be used for a variety of "Don Gordon Memorial Programs," such as student scholarships, campus apple tree planting, and the funding of a 4 season's campus greenhouse. To donate to this fund, prospective donors can go online to fortlewis.edu and click on the "Give Now" Button. Step One prompts individuals to select an amount to give. Step Two allows individuals to search for the fund they wish to contribute to. If they type "Gordon" in the search box, the fund will appear for them to select. Donors are also invited to contribute via check. Checks can be made out to Fort Lewis College Foundation, with "Dr. Don Gordon Fund" listed in the memo line. Sarah Pretzer is the Foundation Officer who can answer any specific questions you might have about how the fund works and other aspects of contributing. A "Celebration of Life" service will be held for Professor Gordon on June 29th at 1:00pm at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Durango. All are welcome.