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Robert Jordan Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Robert Jordan
Janet J Harding
May 12, 2022
Dad, as life goes by, I look at your photo every day and feel that drop of my stomach as if it were just yesterday I saw you fighting for life. You defied it. You growled at it, daring it to step into the courtroom. Unfortunately, Cancer won. I hope those last moments on earth released you to a place free of suffering, burden, and frailties of the human kind. I dream that you, Granddaddy, Nana Lou, all of your aunts and uncles and Jennifer have found that place freedom. You shouldn't have suffered like that. I love you. But I hate this anniversary.
savery gradoville
May 10, 2021
May 10, 2020: It has taken me years to appreciate my Mother’s constant reassurance that after her death she would never leave me and always be there for me. As I have lost other friends and slowly climbed out from under the emotional state of sadness of each loss and especially on the anniversaries of their losses, you realize you have moved beyond sadness to a state of sorrow where my sense of what I have lost simply remains a constant. It is learning to live with the “black hole” that Pres. Biden refers to and which all of us come to know faced with loss. My sense of loss without Bob’s good humor, candor, and balance simply increases with time.
The “black hole” is a shared experience of all who have lost anyone who was their whole world and now lives with a permanent sorrow. Then he comforts us by assuring that a time will come when a smile to the lips appears before a tear reaches the eye. That smile, however, is not a facial expression; it is not made by the lips but by the heart and is a gift from the Father. He reassures each of us that nothing in life is ever so bad and your sense of loss so consuming if you can still smile with your heart. Each Heart Smile is sent to ease that void which you sense will be with you for so long as you breathe. It is dulled by time but always remains as your life experience with your personal “black hole.”
You know that you are diminished by your sense of the absence of your loved one or friend, now your new reality. Life will never be the same. You resent the unfairness of that loss because you have done nothing to deserve it. Yes, you mourn your lost one but also grieve for yourself because you are now diminished. Gradually, you come to realize that your loved one or dear friend will never leave you, remaining always as close to you as your mind’s own presence to itself and has become a part of you.
The Father pities those suffering this loss by giving each us Heart Smiles that lift us by Grace to see the Truth and Beauty in Nature and in others and when we strive to make others breathe easier because we have lived. Each Heart Smile helps us deal with our sense of loss, not by recalling memories (which is an obvious method to which each of us resorts to cope with loss), but by creating new ones, as new experiences to add to our saved memories.
But the Father is merciful and all-generous by also sending us Heart Whispers as countless, often daily, small miracles of hope that the heart whispers into the darkened silence of the night. There are so few BIG MIRACLES in the present but many Heart Whispers if you just listen with an open heart.
Heart Smiles / Heart Whispers give us the courage to continue despite our sense of loss of a one-of-a-kind friend. They are those gifts from the Father that bring us all together through our common experience of loss as one people sharing a common grief. It is a good start to help us recall that we are all members of but ONE human race consisting of many, all sharing a common experience of sorrow – a spiritual E Pluribus Unum – “one out of many.” Remembering Bob Jordan no longer isolates me in sorrow but helps me feel his presence and rejoice in thanksgiving for having him as a friend and mentor.
But, frankly, I have never evolved beyond my SORROW and conscious “bittersweet loss.” I am certain he is missed by all of us who called him “friend.”
Janet Harding
May 10, 2021
Missing you, Dad.
Savery Gradoville
May 10, 2020
Another year has passed and appropriate to testify to Bob's legacy. I firmly believe that there are some who bring a light so great into this world that even after they are gone, their light remains. That light can be physical (Edison's bulb, Pasteur, Ehrlich, Salk), or spiritual (Christ's Gospels) or verbal (literary writers and poets) or oral (composers - Mozart) or metaphysical (philosophers) or political (Founding Fathers). What else was the "EnLIGHTenment?" And each one of us has his/her personal light, the light of lived example and life's continual acts of kindness/caring//helping/supporting others. Bob's light of lived experience never leaves the "others" whom he "touched" (like me). He is always, ever remembered because his light remains as close to me as my mind's own presence to itself. I am ever grateful for, and am continually warmed by, his constant light. It always brings a smile to my heart and life is never so bad if I can still smile with my heart -- his gift, his legacy to me. But he is missed.
Savery Gradoville
May 16, 2019
Bob was a colleague and daily exponent of the best of the legal profession -- never a mere business but a calling to preserve the rule of law and use it, his knowledge/understanding, and skill to benefit others. I honor him by remembering that the law Bob loved to practice is ever on the frontline preserving what this Country stands for -- freedom and equality. Bob is a great American and oxymoron, an honest lawyer who placed service before self-interest. We shared our love of dogs and the understanding how their presence in our lives completes us and makes the daily journey of life, so often bitter, sweet.
John Ferren
May 11, 2019
Bob was a great advocate and a great fellow, with the pro bono spirit of a giving lawyer. When, as new D.C. Corporation Counsel in 1997, I discovered that the office had no functional computer network, Bob -- without charge -- arranged for the design and implementation of a new system, just one incident evidencing his generous nature.
The Conductor
Jason & Agata Heisel
August 19, 2010
My wife, Agata, and I knew Mr. Jordan near the end of his life. My wife watched over him during the days until there was need for a nurse. We helped him build the second level onto his train set in the garage. During this time we got to know him pretty well. He use to wear this aviator suit everywhere.
My wife would come home laughing ... saying that they would be at a store and a Mr. Jordan would give the cashier a bit of a hard time and turn to Agata as they were leaving and say "they had an attitude ... huh?"
We have fond memories of Mr. Jordan and we were glad that we had a chance to spend some quality time with him.
A Coke and a smile to you, Mr. Jordan.
August 15, 2010
Because I've been away from D.C. for several months, I did not learn of Bob's death until a few days ago. It saddens me greatly. I have known Bob for several decades because of his service to our court, particularly in the field of legal ethics, where he was the leader to be sure. In addition to being president of the D.C. Bar, Bob chaired the Bar's committee to study the new ABA Model Code on Professional Responsibility. He educated us all, through many presentations, about the new world of ethical issues that were overtaking the profession, and the revisions to the ABA Model Code he recommended were adopted here and influenced other bars and courts nationwide. Bob continued to advise on legal ethics in the years thereafter, and it would be hard to overemphasize his contributions to bar and bench in this field. In 1987, Bob accepted our court's appointment to represent several individuals who had passed the bar exam and were seeking admission but earlier had been convicted of felonies. They presented substantial evidence of rehabilitation. In this most difficult case Bob prevailed, before a divided en banc court, in In re Manville, 538 A.2d 1128 (D.C. 1988).
I also want to add a more personal note. I left the court in 1997 to become D.C. Corporation Counsel. Knowing that that office lacked a functioning computer system, I called Bob for help (he was well known as a computer expert). Straightaway Bob personally designed a new system for the office, supplying all the necessary specifications after a complete study of our needs, and he made the IT team at Steptoe & Johnson available to make sure that the system was installed and operated properly -- all pro bono.
Bob was a giant of the bar, a real contributor to the public good, and overall a splendid, very generous human being. I will miss him.
John M. Ferren
Senior Judge
District of Columbia Court of Appeals
Andy @Barbara Kilcarr
May 26, 2010
Bob was a great friend and neighbor as well as a valued colleague to Andy during the oil litigation lasting from the 1970s through the nineties. He was a brilliant advocate on behalf of his client ARCO often bearing the burdens of the entire industry in his always principled representations.As a neighbor and friend,there was none better.
Janet Harding
May 25, 2010
It has been so special to hear the stories of my father from his coworkers, colleagues and friends and to know that the man that has always been a hero in my eyes has also been held in high esteem by others. Those who truly knew him were aware that beneath that tough exterior was a heart of gold and a man who believed in the sentiment that you have to "teach a man to fish" rather than give him the fish. I think he would ask that all of us now pay it forward and teach others . . . Goodbye, Dad. - Janet
Karen (K.T.) Tucker
May 24, 2010
During my first year as a legal assistant at S&J [more than 20 years ago], I had the opportunity and privilege of working on a project for Bob. It was an extraordinary assignment for a new legal assistant and it was there that I learned a lot from Bob about paying attention to the "details." Today, paying attention to all those details has honed my skills into an extraordinary "niche" in the paralegal profession.
I will also remember attending my first S&J Christmas party and how Bob stood up on a stool and after quieting the crowd, gave away the gifts, and then proclaimed to all: "I want some serious partying up in here!"
I thank Bob for the privilege to have known him and the contribution that he made to my life. I will never forget the words Bob told me after I completed that ssignment and I will never forget that Christmas party!
My deepest condolences to his family. We wil all miss him.
Kenneth Ewing
May 23, 2010
To Bob's family and close friends, please accept my heartfelt condolences. Bob will be missed by many, many who have benefited from his tireless contributions of his time, energy, experience, and fierce intellect. My introduction to Bob came as a newly-minted associate assigned to help with one of Bob' massive cases. Warned of his impatience for fools, I found only dedication to excellence and intellectual rigor -- even if sometimes bluntly put. Over the years thereafter, I also benefited again and again from seeing his dedication to service, to the legal profession, and to his beloved law firm. He left his mark on all three. And in these past few years he showed us also how to continue to serve with dignity, good humor, and fortitude despite pain, worries, and physical demands of fighting a bitter and remorseless disease. Thanks, again, Bob! We will miss you, indeed.
Jackie Brown
May 19, 2010
Deb and Maggie - my thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.
Much love,
Lesley Krauland
May 18, 2010
I feel very fortunate to have known and to have worked with Bob, and I will miss him as I would miss a family member from whom I learned a lot and loved. In the late eighties and early nineties I worked with Bob in Los Angeles and Anchorage on two cases. Although I was a mere legal assistant then, he always treated me with respect and kind humor. He didn't mind when I ordered a neat Wild Turkey to try to keep company with him and the others, and he wasn't upset if I took a break from copying documents to look at "Good Dog, Carl" that lay on the side table in our Los Angeles "office." I learned much from Bob's high standards. I know he touched the lives of many people in many meaningful ways. My condolences, too, to his family; he always spoke affectionately and lovingly of all of you. Bob will be very missed, but will be remembered lovingly too. My best wishes to the family --
Mark Neubauer
May 18, 2010
Bob had a rare combination of tenaciousness and commitment to ethics. His love of the law was and is an inspiration to all of us. I was only blessed to know him the past four years but he was a source of wisdom and guidance that so many of us will miss. My condolences to his family of whom he spoke so lovingly in his final journey. May the fact that Bob was beloved by so many be a comfort to you.
Nancy White
May 17, 2010
Bob's passing is a great loss to the legal community, to the community at large and all of the young (and not so young!) lawyers who had the privilege of practicing with him. He had a heart of gold and a commitment to the welfare of the vulnerable members of society. He will be greatly missed. I am so sorry for the monumental loss the members of the Jordan family have suffered.
Savery M. Gradoville
May 17, 2010
I was privileged to know Bob not only as a mentor and colleague but also as a very dear friend. We shared a love of dogs and agreed that dogs have all of man's virtues and none of his vices. Bob always had time to talk with me and share his knowledge, experience, and counsel whenever I needed a friend; his advice was always so very much appreciated and helpful. He is loved by many and will be greatly missed by all. His intelligence was only exceeded by his great good will, caring, and strength of character. He had little tolerance for ignorance and unkindness but I never knew him to be wantonly cruel even to those who meant to hurt him. He was a valiant fighter and worthy adversary in life and most especially in his final trial, facing death straight on and without compromise. The world is diminished by his passing. To me, he is quite simply family and nothing in life is more important or missed than family. I treasure the few moments we spoke just a couple of weeks ago when he shared that he was having difficulty managing the pain so he could continue to function.
My deepest condolences to his family and friends who love him. Thankfully, his suffering is over. He will be greatly missed.
Michael Donlan
May 17, 2010
I am terribly sorry to hear that Bob has passed away. My deepest condolences to his family.
Bob was a great mentor to me, and though I hadn't spoken to him often in recent years, I have many fond memories of him.
Rest in peace, Bob.
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