Gordon Saussy "Batman" Varnedoe

1938 - 2021

Gordon Saussy Varnedoe "Batman"
Savannah, GA
Gordon Saussy Varnedoe affectionately known as "Batman" died on April 24, 2021 after a short illness. Gordon was the son of Lilla Train Varnedoe and Samuel Lamartine Varnedoe. He was born in Savannah Georgia on May 19, 1938. He attended Charles Ellis school, Woodberry Forest school in Virginia and graduated from the University of Georgia. Gordon married Catharine McIntire Eller and had three daughters Nell McIntire Varnedoe, Catharine Eller Varnedoe and Elise Bond Varnedoe. He and Catharine moved to California where they had their family and Gordon worked as a salesman for the Piper aircraft company in Oakland. He then became a sales representative for Obermeyer Ski Company in Aspen Colorado.
Returning to Savannah after eighteen year, He became the Director of the Waterfront Association, and then went on to become a fundraiser for Armstrong State College, The Alzheimer's Association and the Savannah Jazz Association. In his retirement he was a teacher's aide for the Savannah Chatham county public school system.
Gordon was an avid skier and a rugby player for over forty years. While in California he was president of the rugby club called the Bay Area Touring side. Returning to Savannah he played Rugby with the Savannah Shamrocks and the Blind Pigs in Athens Georgia. He was also a master weightlifter winning several tournaments and medals in his age and weight divisions.
Gordon was instrumental in founding the Savannah Scottish games. He competed as an athlete and then later became an announcer. He had the honor of tossing the caber in front of Queen Elizabeth at the Braemar Scottish games in Scotland.
For years Gordon played General James Oglethorpe in the Georgia day parade, as well as visiting schools teaching children about the history of Savannah. He was also President of Gamma chapter of the Kappa Alpha fraternity and an officer of the province into his seventies. He was also President and longstanding member of the Saint Andrews Society, a member of the Coastal Scottish Heritage Society, the Society of the Cincinnati and the Society of Colonial Wars.
Gordon was a member of Christ Church Episcopal and the First African Baptist Church of East Savannah. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother J. Kirk Varnedoe and his daughters Catharine and Nell. He is survived by his wife Catharine and daughter Elise, his brother Samuel Lamartine Varnedoe Jr and his wife Donnelly Marks, his sister Comer Varnedoe Immel her husband the Reverend Otto Immel, sister-in-law Elyn Zimmerman and special brother Hayward Gignilliat as well as several nieces and nephews.
Memorials can be made in his honor to Christ Church Episcopal and First African Baptist Church of East Savannah or the charity of your choice.
Graveside Service will be 11:30 a.m., Thursday, April 29, 2021 in the Greenwich section of Bonaventure Cemetery.
Savannah Morning News
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