Edgar G. Gordon Jr.

Gordon, Jr., Edgar G. Kalamazoo (formerly of Grosse Pointe) Age 91, passed away peacefully of natural causes at Rose Arbor on July 29, 2015. He was born in Detroit Michigan, on February 27, 1924 to Edgar G. and Verna (Hay) Gordon. He is survived by: Alice, his wife of 48 years; two children David (Jeslyn) and Scott; three grandchildren, Alex , Brianna, and Hadyn; his sister Jane Glomstead (Garry); his nephew Craig (Pamela) Glomstead, as well as many loving nephews, nieces, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Donald Gordon. In high school, he served as an usher for University of Michigan football games, earned the Eagle Scout Rank and attended the first Boy Scout National Jamboree in D.C., and attended Monroe High School and then Cranbrook High School (Bloomfield Hills). During World War II, he served as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy starting in 1943 and was honorably discharged in 1946. While starting at Princeton University before the war, he returned to attend Harvard Business School in 1945, then graduated from Princeton University in 1947, and graduated from Harvard Law School in 1950. He was admitted to the Michigan Bar in 1951 and also to the United States Supreme Court Bar. He began his career from 1950 to 1963 with the law firm Poole, Warren, Littell, & Gordon. He became Corporate Counsel (1963 to 1969), Secretary (1966 to 1969), and Vice President (1968 to 1969) at Hygrade Food Products Corporation, supporting Ball Park Franks and the "plump when you cook 'em" slogan. After discovering an interest in banking, he joined Northern States Bank Corporation (aka City National Bank of Detroit, aka First of America, aka National City) serving as Vice President Counsel (1969 to 1991) and Corporate Secretary (1976 to 1991). After joining in 1981, he retired as a partner from Howard & Howard law firm in 1991. Among his leadership opportunities in the community, Edgar served on the board of directors from 1961 to 1969 for Inter-City Community Clinic in the Detroit area. He served the Kalamazoo City Commission for three terms, from 1995 to 2001. He was a member of First Congregational Church in downtown Kalamazoo, serving on the Ways & Means Committee and serving as moderator. He co-founded Communities-In-Schools in Kalamazoo, part of the largest drop-out prevention program in the nation. He served on the board of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo for 9 years and as interim director for one year; for his work, he received the Theodore C. Cooper award in 2010. For the Boy Scouts of America, Edgar served as President of the Southwest Michigan Council during 1988 to 1989, which incubated the Cub Scout side of Rota-Kiwan Scout Reservation; he was a recipient of the Silver Beaver award in 1990. He served as President of the Community Action Board and, in 2004, received a Lifetime Achievement Award. A visitation will be held Thursday, September 24th from 2-4 & 6-8 at the Langeland Westside Chapel, 3926 S. 9th Street. A Memorial Service will be held Friday, September 25th at 11 o'clock at the First Congregational Church, 345 W. Michigan. A second Memorial Service will be held Sunday, September 27th at 2 o'clock, at the Grosse Pointe Memorial Church, 16 Lakeshore Drive. Memorials may be directed to the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo; Communities In Schools; Boy Scouts of America; Kalamazoo Institute of Arts or First Congregational Church. Please visit Edgar's personalized webpage for online guestbook, directions or to leave a condolence at www.langelands.com.