George M. Gordon

Taught by his father to love the sea and all things nautical, George was a boater through and through. Born in Norwalk, Connecticut, George fulfilled his boyhood dream of attending the US Naval Academy, from which he graduated in 1969. The Academy forever changed his life, teaching him leadership, forbearance, stamina and team cooperation, in addition to gifting him with lifelong friends.

A Vietnam War veteran, George served on many ships, including the Westchester County, the last Navy ship out of Haiphong Harbor and the lead ship for mine sweepers after the treaty with Vietnam negotiated by Kissinger. After an honorable discharge from full-time Navy life in 1979, George continued to serve in the Naval Reserves through 1995, reaching the rank of Captain. His duties included Navy Duty Command Watch at the Pentagon, answering directly to the Secretary of the Navy.

After leaving active duty, George went to work for Gould, Inc., and later formed a group to buy out their defense product division. As CEO for leading-edge tech firms, George forged a path for many emerging trends, including online Supply Chain Management and efficiency protocols that are now considered the norm. Moving to the Tampa, Florida area in 2001, George took the helm of Enporion, a utility owned supply chain management company. He later purchased the company, which he sold in 2011.

George served on numerous boards, including, most recently, as Chairman of the Tampa Bay Technology Forum from 2004 to 2008, Florida Technology, Research and Scholarship Board, Florida High Tech Corridor Council, Tampa Bay Innovation Center as Chairman, Florida Next Foundation as Chairman, and Tampa Bay WaVe.

George’s legacy in the community is one of caring, dedication, mentoring and his desire to help make the Tampa area one of the top five tech destinations in the United States. George was known in Tampa/St. Petersburg as the go-to resource for networking, and he derived much pleasure from helping others connect and grow. There is no doubt that his mentorship and compassionate support changed many lives. George loved the Tampa business and tech community with all his heart and was often heard to say that his only regret in life was not moving to Florida earlier in his career.

With his wife, Donna, George enjoyed boating the waters of Florida from Anclote Key down to Key West and took annual visits to their favorite retreat, the US and British Virgin Islands. They moved to the USVI for retirement in 2017 and made the journey in their boat, Anthem, from Florida to St. Thomas, which was the adventure of George’s life. They arrived two months before Hurricanes Irma and Maria, two weeks apart, devastated the islands. Nevertheless, George demonstrated his trademark leadership and compassion, helping so many on island during this difficult time, and more than once he commented that the experience changed his life for the better.

After his diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease in 2020, George and Donna made the difficult decision to move back to the mainland for his healthcare needs, settling in Wesley Chapel.

George is survived by his loving wife of thirty years, Donna Gordon; sister Marcia Gordon, daughter of his heart Jennifer Thorne, children Jessica Meyle and Gregory Gordon, and four grandchildren, Oliver and Henry Thorne and Isabella and William Meyle.

A celebration of life gathering in Tampa will be announced at a later date. George’s ashes will be interred at the United States Naval Academy and scattered across the waters of the Virgin Islands.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in George’s name to the Research Fund for the Multiple System Atrophy Coalition, https://support.multiplesystematrophy.org/fundraiser/4133434