Gordon A. Pott

Gordon Alan Pott (b. August 19, 1928) of South Orleans, MA, passed away peacefully on October 16, 2016 at McCarthy Care Center in Sandwich, MA at the age of 88. Sylvia, his loving wife of 61 years, and his four children were by his side. Gordon was loved and cherished as a kind and thoughtful husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

Gordon was born and raised in Summit, NJ, where his roots went back for several generations. He grew up with four brothers in a sports-obsessed family (you could ask them any batting average or league standing!) and went on to graduate from Lafayette College in 1950 with a degree in Administrative Engineering. After graduating, he served as a corporal in the US Army in postwar West Germany. His fondest memory of his army career was sneaking outside the officers’ tent in the fall of 1951 to hear Bobby Thomson’s home run win the pennant for his beloved Giants. Back home from the army, Gordon met Sylvia Hand, who was visiting her aunt and uncle next door to Gordon’s parents. Gordon and Sylvia married in 1955 and raised their daughter and three sons in Summit, where Gordon worked as the city's tax assessor and later continued his career as a real estate appraiser and then as manager of corporate real estate for American Cyanamid. He and Sylvia retired to Cape Cod in 1994, where they continued to enjoy tennis, paddle tennis, church, many friends, the ocean, their quiet pond and their faithful dogs.

Gordon’s life was marked by an unfailing sense of justice, and his dependable kindness, generosity, and respect toward everyone he met. His greatest legacy is his loving family, including his wife, Sylvia; his children Cindy Benson of Andover, NH, Ken (Lenore) of Chappaqua, NY, David (Alix von Auenmueller) of Great Barrington, MA, and Tom (Jenny Horvath) of Kimball Hill, OR; his grandchildren Caren Benson Swanson (Dave), Lindsey Benson Allenby (Scott), and Emily, Andrew, Lizzy, Noah and Talia Pott; and his great-grandchildren Clara and Benny Swanson, and Camden, Micah and Sadie Allenby. Gordon was predeceased by Cindy's husband, Paul "Benny” Benson. His parents were Alan A. Pott and Katherine Gray of Summit, NJ. Gordon was the oldest of five brothers, including Roger, Norman, Douglas and Ronald. Roger and Ronald, along with incredible sisters-in-law Nancy, Enid and Joy, survive him, as do many wonderful nieces and nephews.

A memorial service to celebrate a life well lived will be held at First Congregational Church, Chatham, MA on Friday, December 9th at 3 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Gordon can be made to Hope Hospice, 765 Attucks Lane, Hyannis, MA 02601 or First Congregational Church, 650 Main Street, Chatham, MA 02633.