Dr. Frank J. Gordon

Frank Gordon was born April 9, 1942, in Yonkers, New York, to Frank J. and Olga (Siefken) Fischer. In 1949, when his mother remarried, he was adopted by his stepfather, Raymond L. Gordon. He was baptized on May 10, 1942, at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Yonkers He attended Lutheran grad schools in Columbus, Nebraska, and in Denver. He was confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church in Denver in 1956.

Upon his graduation from South High school in Denver in 1960, Dr. Gordon attended the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he received his B.A. (1964), M.A. (1967), and Ph.D. (1977) in history. While at the university, he was active in the Lutheran student group, and he served as student manager of the varsity basketball team.

In 1967, Gordon became one of the founding faculty members of Aims Community College in Greeley and served there for three years. He returned to the College in 1982 following the completion of his doctorate and served the citizens of Weld County as professor of political science until his retirement in 2001 and recently became the last surviving original faculty member. While at Aims, he also created and taught courses in the history of Christianity and in modern German history. As a member of the Aims Speakers Bureau, he gave guest lectures on Martin Luther, on the Holocaust, and on the First Amendment and religion to church and civic groups in Greeley, as well as in Windsor, Loveland, Boulder, and Denver. He also participated in Greeley's Community Holocaust Memorial Observances as a speaker, donor, and organizing committee member. In addition, his scholarly work included two books, as well as articles and book reviews on modern German history in several academic journals. During the Covid pandemic, he wrote four books on German history and on the Reformation for friends, his final contribution as an historian.

Dr. Gordon had been an active member of Gloria Christi Lutheran Church, where he served for a time as elder. He helped to bring stained glass windows and the pipe organ to the old sanctuary and served on the building committee for the new sanctuary, continuing his work with the stained glass windows. In 2008, he joined Trinity Episcopal Church and was in charge of the stained glass windows for the expansion of the narthex in 2013-14.

In his retirement, Dr. Gordon resumed his study of both classical and flamenco guitar. He was an active member of the Classical Guitar Society of Northern Colorado and served as editor of the Society's monthly newsletter for several years. For two years, he played his classical guitar music weekly for the residents of Bonnell.

Gordon was preceded in death by his parents, his brother William R. Gordon, by his beloved cat Topsy, and by Dee, who meant more to him than he ever realized till he learned of her death.

Always known for his sense of humor and for being funny, Gordon knew that there is nothing funny about death, so at the end, he did what everyone since the Creation has done. He learned to make a sound like and frog, and he croaked.

He is survived by his church friends, close former Aims Colleagues, and by the many students whom he had the great privilege to teach.

A viewing will take place on Monday, December 9, 2024 from 10:00-11:00 a.m., followed by a funeral service, both at Trinity Episcopal Church; 3800 W. 20th Street; Greeley, Colorado. In lieu of memorial donations, please reflect the love of Jesus in your dealings with your fellow human beings.