William Robert Gordon (Bill) of Winter Park, Florida, died at the age of 94 on May 28, 2020. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts on May 27, 1926, to William H. Gordon and Anna (Noonan) Gordon. Bill was proceeded in death by his wife Marcelyn Lorene (Peggy) Gordon. They were married on January 2, 1959, in Winter Park, FL.
Bill had a storied life and career and was beloved by all. He served in WWII in the U.S. Navy as an Aviation Electrician’s Mate. He also served as a gunner on the Douglas SBD Dauntless. He was mainly involved in U.S. shore protection from Japanese and Nazi submarines throughout the war. He received an honorable discharge in 1946, qualified for the G.I. Bill and attended Rollins College that same year. At Rollins he received a teaching degree in mathematics. He also played football (quarterback) for Rollins and was on their last football team. He is in the Rollins College Athletic Hall of Fame.
After attending Rollins College, he taught mathematics at Winter Park High School (WPHS) where he taught trigonometry and analytical geometry from 1951 to 1967. During this time, he also taught calculus in the evening school at Florida Southern University and Rollins College. At WPHS he was the chairman of the math department and became the dean of students. He also was the head coach of baseball and basketball and an assistant coach for football and sponsored the first crew team at the school. He is in the WPHS Athletic Hall of Fame and was very proud of his accomplishments as a coach and teacher. He also received his master’s degree in Education Administration from Stetson University while at WPHS.
In 1967 he opened Seminole Community College (Seminole State) as the administrator in charge of the Adult Education Program. He was one of two administrators to start Seminole Community College. He was very proud of the accomplishments and growth of the school and was an advocate of the school until his death.
In 1974 he returned to Rollins College to become the Director of Alumni Affairs where he worked to build community and partnerships with the alumni. His success as the director landed him a promotion in 1983 to Associate Vice President of Development for Rollins College by President Thaddeus Seymore. While in that role he helped to secure the largest donation ever to Rollins College. When he retired from Rollins in 1988, he was nicknamed “Mr. Rollins” and was named Vice President Emeritus (Vice President forever) of the college.
Bill’s career was stellar; he was also a strong member of the Winter Park and Orlando communities. He and Peggy were founding members of St. Richard’s Episcopal Church in Winter Park. He was a senior warden and vestry member of the church and contributed on many levels. He was also a little league coach and helped to form the Maitland Little League. His knowledge as a coach and ability to train his players led many of them to be successful in high school, college and in the major league. Many of his players kept in contact with him until his passing.
In 1972, Bill became the President of the South Seminole Rotary Club. Later he transferred to the Orange County East Rotary Club in Winter Park where he developed many friendships. He was most proud of the accomplishments of the club and his 30+ years of perfect attendance!
For over forty years, Bill was a member of the County Club of Orlando (CCO). He loved to play golf! He and Peggy were avid golfers and he continued playing golf 3 times a week after Peggy’s death and until he was 92 years old. He made many friends while at CCO and on the golf course. He also enjoyed playing with his son and grandson in many tournaments until he stopped playing.
A unique aspect of Bill’s life was his ties to farming. He and his wife Peggy owned a farm in Woolstock, IA and he enjoyed working with the Jacobsons who farmed the land. He also loved going to Iowa to spend time with family, particularly Jan Marvel and the hole Marvel family. There were many card games and fun evenings shared with the “Iowa” side of the family both in Iowa and at family reunions.
At age 93, Bill was treated to an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. for his service in World War II. It was a wonderful trip and he and the other veterans were able to visit the various federal monuments in the area. He particularly enjoyed watching a wreath being laid at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and visiting the World War II monument. He was thankful for the experience.
Bill was most proud of being the patriarch of the family. He loved being a grandfather and loved his children and grandchildren very much. He attended most of the games his grandchildren played in their various sports and enjoyed cheering them on. He was proud of the two of them being public school teachers in the Orlando area. Bill was very approachable and had a great sense of humor. He had nicknames for everyone and loved to tease and be a part of the conversation. He picked out the good things in people and had a great perspective on life. He enjoyed people and was known as a “people” person.
Bill is survived by his daughter Pamela Thomas of Cincinnati, OH; his son, William R. Gordon II (Bill) and daughter in law Patricia; his grandson, William R. Gordon III (Trey), his wife Ally and their child (his great grandchild), William R. Gordon IV (Liam); and Whitney Gordon his granddaughter. All live in the Orlando area. He is survived by his younger brother Dick Gordon from Brockton, MA, and his younger sister Joan King of Weymouth, MA. He was proceeded in death by his wife, Peggy; son, Kenneth Gordon, of California; sisters Mary Clerk of Orlando, Fl; Barbara Colleary of Tempe, AZ; Mildred Cusimano of Orlando, FL; Claire Fitzpatrick of Weymouth, MA; and his brother Arthur Gordon of Scituate, MA. He was also close to his brothers and sister’s children and loved them dearly.
A family internment ceremony will be held at St. Richard’s Episcopal Church in Winter Park on ¬¬June 19, 2020, where he will be laid to rest with Peggy. Donations, in lieu of flowers, may be made to Winter Park High School Sports Hall of Fame or Honor Flight Orlando.
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