Virginia Gordon

1927 - 2017

Gordon, Virginia
1927 - 2017
Dr. Virginia N. Gordon passed away just short of her 90th birthday in the comfort of her home on November 21, 2017, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on December 13, 1927, to the late Milo and Irma Niswonger of Dayton, OH, and moved to Columbus to attend Ohio State University in 1945. She was preceded in death by her husband of thirty-seven years, Dr. George Gordon DDS, who died in 1987, and her sisters and their spouses Phyllis and Robert Fackler of Colorado Springs, CO, and Marilyn and Samuel Hagans of Dayton, OH. She is survived by her three children and their spouses, David and Charlette Gordon of Cincinnati, Ohio, Robert Gordon, his fiancé Barbara Peterson of Columbus, Ohio, and Barbara's daughter Alexandra Clint of New York, NY, and Catherine Gordon and husband Stephen Lucas of Providence, RI. She is also survived by her six grandchildren, Sean Gordon of Cincinnati, OH, Jason Wickes, wife Eileen, and daughter Casey of Cincinnati, OH, Andrew Gordon-Seifert of Akron, OH, Patrick Gordon-Seifert of Basel, Switzerland, Katelyn Gordon of Cincinnati, OH, Alyssa Gordon of Columbus, OH, and six nieces and nephews, their spouses and children. Virginia Gordon, Ph.D., was an extraordinarily accomplished woman. She was an associate professor at The Ohio State University and served as the second woman assistant dean (emeritus) in University College. She was a founding member of the National Academic Advising Association, serving as its president during the 1980s. She has written fifty books, monographs, book chapters, and journal articles on career and academic counseling and was a charter member of the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA). To honor her contributions to the organization, NACADA created the distinguished Virginia N. Gordon Award, and in 2016, she received Ohio State University's College of Education and Human Ecology Alumni Society's Career Achievement Award. One of her greatest loves was the work she did for Mortar Board, a National College Senior Honors Society. She was selected to The Ohio State University Mortar Board chapter in 1948 and subsequently served as chapter advisor, section coordinator, member of the National Council, a Trustee of the Mortar Board National Foundation, and a member of the Ohio State Mortar Board Alumni Council. She received the national Distinguished Lifetime Member Award in 2004. Her greatest love was for her family, which she expressed in many ways, including her service as Girl Scout leader for her daughter's Troop 53. Friends and family members alike referred to her as "everyone's mom." Throughout her life, she served as the heart of her extended family and provided a place where they would gather and enjoy the love and security of the family she created. She will be profoundly missed by her family and many friends, whom she encouraged and inspired. Funeral service will be held at 6 P.M. Monday, November 27, 2017 at First Community Church, 1320 Cambridge Blvd., where family will receive friends from 4 P.M. until time of service Monday. Arrangements by SCHOEDINGER NORTHWEST CHAPEL. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift in Virginia Gordon's name to The Ohio State University Foundation Fund #313764 that benefits Ohio State Mortar Board (Ohio State University Foundation, PO Box 710811, Columbus OH 43271-0811) or to the National Mortar Board Foundation (Mortar Board National Office, 1200 Chambers Road, Suite 201, Columbus, Ohio 43212, 614-488-4094). To share memories or condolences, please visit www.schoedinger.com.