Search by Name

Add a Memory

Send Flowers

Make a Donation

Share Obituary

Michael S. Gordon

FUNERAL HOME

funeral home

Rockville, Maryland

Michael Gordon Obituary

GORDON, MICHAEL S.

On Sunday, February 1, 2004, MICHAEL S. GORDON, of Bethesda, MD. Beloved husband of Sonya Gordon; devoted father of Elizabeth Gordon Jonckheer (Willem); cherished grandfather of Katherine and Anna. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, February 4, 10:30 a.m., Washington Hebrew Congregation, 3935 Macomb St., NW, Washington, DC. Interment Garden of Remembrance, Clarksburg, MD. Shiva to be announced at service. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in his memory may be made to the Pension Rights Center, Washington, DC. Arrangements by DANZANSKY-GOLDBERG MEMORIAL CHAPELS, INC., 301-340-1400.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Washington Post on Feb. 3, 2004.

Memories and Condolences
for Michael Gordon

Sponsored by The Gordon Family.

36 Entries

Elizabeth Gordon

May 26, 2004

Happy Birthday Dad. We love you. We miss you so much.

Marilyn Park

March 15, 2004

I too was enriched by knowing you and working with you during my Pension Rights Center days. You were a true advocate and we will all miss you.

Karl Polzer

February 12, 2004

Michael,

Thank you for your teaching,

For wise counsel and guidance,

For listening and taking the time to argue

once we thought we had something to say,

For collaborating often,

For pointing out blind alleys,

For steady hope, hard work, and realism,

For good humor and comradeship,

For passion and compassion,

For protecting the least of us,

For trying to improve what you started.

Without you here

We cross into a new, more challenging territory.

Michael,

May your spirit stay with us

And help us do

what is right and just and wise.

David Certner

February 9, 2004

Mike was a strong believer, and that extended to his work in employee benefits. I had the pleasure to serve on various groups with Mike over the years, as well as to have many one-on-one discussions. He believed firmly in what was right and wrong, what one could and should do, and he was one to share those thoughts with you. His counsel and advice was always worthy, and always made something better. Either you needed to agree, or you needed to think through as clearly as Mike did why you did not agree. His loss will create a void not easily filled.

Donald Elisburg

February 5, 2004

I was priviledged to work very closely with Mike during the early 70's when we were colleagues on the Senate Labor Committee staff. He was a very thoughtful and committed person. His legacy is the protection that so many workers received to make sure their pensions were secure

I feel honored to have known him. My condolences to the Gordon family.

Robert Rachal

February 5, 2004

I was never able to meet Mike Gordon, but know of him through his friends, colleaguges, and numerous admirers (e.g., Steve Sacher; Howard Shaprio) who speak fondly of him and of his reputation and work in enacting ERISA legislation. All who work in this area paid homage to and mourned his passage at our annual ABA EBC meeting

Abbott Leban

February 5, 2004

Although we were at one time contemporaries on the Hill and I knew him by reputation, I actually met him only three or four years ago. We fast became friends, so much so I felt as if I had known him all my life, that's how comfortable we felt with each other. I am certain that feeling about Mike is held and treasured by every single person who he favored with his grace, his humor, the force of his intellect, and his knowing all that territory between the realities of life as it is and, with fairmindedness always, its delicious ironies and the absurd.

Sarah Stevens

February 5, 2004

Mike was a man of great insight, wisdom, and kindness. He was a tremendous friend and was unfailingly helpful to all of us at BNA. I doubt that his tenure of almost 30 years as chairman of our Pension & Benefits Reporter advisory board could ever be matched; I know his contributions could not be. The writers and editors here are left speechless by his passing. The loss of his knowledge, humor, and great heart will be felt by so very many people.

Steven E. Schanes

February 5, 2004

Mike Gordon was a "Force" in the development of national pension policy.

While passionate about the protection of employee pensions, he maintained a wonderful sense of humor. I feel fortunate to have worked with him over the years, and will miss him greatly.

Grace Kraemer

February 5, 2004

The employee benefits field has lost a great leader. Mike never forgot why many of us got into this business -- to ensure retirement security for all workers and their families. Mike will continue to be an inspiration to all of us in the employee benefits community as we move forward to tackle difficult issues involving retirement security as well as access to health care benefits for all workers and their families.

Michael Barry

February 5, 2004

Michael was graceful, gracious, courtly. He was gentle. He was not routine. He said what he thought, with humor and without pretention. He was genuine. He was funny. I will miss him, a lot.

Lee Irish

February 4, 2004

Employee benefits has always been a field of disagreement and conflict. Mike was the best adversary I ever had. He knew the terrain. He had heard most of the arguments many times before. He understood the practical side of politics as well as the overarching principles. He was wonderfully patient in discussions, and unbelievably tenacious! He cared deeply, passionately about what he stood for and sought in the benefits field -- a fair shake for the little guy. He was never pompous, and he delighted in making fun of himself. Who has contributed more than Mike to making the pension promise real and fair? No one. We have lost a dear friend as well as a wonderful colleague. God bless you, Mike.

Patricia Butler

February 4, 2004

Mike was one of those rare humans who was smart, witty, gracious, and comfortable with (but never full of) himself. Though I had the privilege of his acquaintance for only the last ten years, I was struck by how his long career in the public and private sectors continued to serve his passion for wise and thoughtful public policy founded on equity and justice. We will miss his insight, leadership, and good will.

Nick Damico

February 4, 2004

I met Michael in my early days as a sole practioner. He was bright, humerous, honest and an inspiration to me to continue my solo pratice. He will be missed.

Jane White

February 4, 2004

Mike gave me encouragement to start a retirement reform organization despite the fact that I wasn't a Beltway Insider. He had a heart of gold, a mind like a steel trap and a passion to make things better. The pension reform community has lost one of its leading lights.

Morton Klevan

February 4, 2004

I knew Mike since 1975, and what has always struck me about him was how passionate, decent, and generous he was. He always had his eyes on assuring that plan participants got a fair deal, not a raw deal. He was one of a kind, and will be sorely missed.

Janice Gregory

February 4, 2004

Mike Gordon's death leaves a big hole in the pension policy family. His insight, directness, honesty, and ever-present sense of humor enlightened every conversation in which he was present.

Dianne Bennett

February 4, 2004

I was asked recently to help a scholar find some background on issues relating to pre-ERISA plans. I was about to give Mike's name to him as the living source of all this knowledge. Mike was on my mind when I learned of his death.... Although I did not know him as well as most of his colleagues in the DC area, it was my pleasure to know Mike through various pension advisory groups. He was often a great champion of the little people. Part of our history of ERISA died with Mike; he carried its passion with him. He will live on in many people's memories.

Mark Ugoretz

February 4, 2004

It never mattered whether I agreed with Mike or not, I had to listen. He insisted that I listen. He made me listen as he did with anyone who knew him. When we talked about retirement or health issues, he always made me feel that we both had a great responsibility to do the right thing even if it seemed we were on opposite sides. He was witty, charming, joyful, tenacious, persevering and, if he had a rare talent for making others want to do the things in which he so strongly believed, he also understood that there had to be a balance between what he wanted and what the other guy needed. There are few if any like him and he will be missed.

Mike was among the great authors of one of the greatest labor acts our Nation has ever produced. His efforts and dedication produced a thirty year framework for ensuring retirement security that he insisted all his life could and should be improved. His family, his friends, and anyone who simply came across him, can feel pride and joy for having been with him. His life is one to be remembered and celebrated even as we extend our deepest sympathies to his family.

I liked him very much.

Rosina Barker

February 4, 2004

Mike was as warm, kind, and generous to lawyers just starting their careers as he was to friends and colleagues of long standing. He was a thoughtful and passionate advocate of what he believed was right, a model to us all of goodness and decency, and an all-around lovely guy. God bless you Mike.

Bill Bortz

February 4, 2004

I practiced ERISA law in New York and did not meet Mike until I moved to DC in 1995. My interaction was in discussions about ERISA and how well/poorly it was working. I felt he was a kindred spirit, probably wishful thinking on my part. He was direct and a man of vision. I will miss him.

Randy Hardock

February 4, 2004

Mike was smart, honest, and yes couragous in his views. He had that dry sense of humor that I will never forget. His is a legacy to be proud of. God Bless you Mike.

Russ Mueller

February 3, 2004

Mike is someone who you could always count on, knowledgeable and unselfish in his giving. This from the moment our paths first crossed on the Hill in 1972. As with many others, he mentored me as a young staffer struggling to draft pension legislation in the House of Representatives while he was the experienced senior pension counsel on the Senate side. We spent many hours together while drafting ERISA and many hours over the years regaling each other over our escapades on the Hill. Mike was a friend and confidant who I kept after to go fishing at my secret fishin’ holes. I will greatly miss Mike and hope we can still catch the Big One!

Jim Ray

February 3, 2004

I had the privilege of knowing Mike for more than 25 years. Mike was a class guy, and he made a real difference for the good. There a lot of folks whose lives are better because of Mike. Among his many other important contributions, he showed us practitioners that civility and even friendship can co-exist with advocacy and competition. He will be missed.

Morton Marks

February 3, 2004

I was Michael`s supervisor when he began his governmental service at the U.S.Dept.of Labor many years ago. He was brilliant and easy to work with. It was obvious that he would be going on to bigger and better things,which he did.

John Rother AARP

February 3, 2004

Mike was a mentor, a colleague, a role model. He was my guide through ERISA. He was my predecessor with Sen. Javits. He was a voice for progressive policy and a lovely person to talk with about almost anything. He helped millions have a more secure retirement, and he made friends all along the way.

Harry Lamon

February 3, 2004

Mike and I became friends in 1973 while he was serving as Counsel to the House Labor Committee and was one of the principal drafters of ERISA. Mike had a keen and creative mind and a sharp wit, but his primary interest was always "Is it fair to the little guy who can't protect himself?" Mike will be sorely missed by his many friends.

Ron Dean

February 3, 2004

Mike was just good people. He will be sorely missed.

Steve Sacher

February 3, 2004

He was at various times my boss and my mentor, and for more than 36 years a close friend and an esteemed colleague in the community of employee benefits specialists. Mike was secure in himself and blessed with an intellect of great depth, a moral compass that was invariably true and a wonderful sense of humor, and he had abiding faith in the Cubs. Some will stand in his shoes; none will fill them. We are all privileged to have known him.

Norman Stein

February 3, 2004

Michael was a public treasure and a true friend. Eternally optimistic, perrennially sunny, possessed of great heart and sure judgment, Mike was and always will be Mike. The world has lost some of its joy and some its hope with his passing.

bob blum

February 3, 2004

Mike was a gem. Fun, serious, opinionated but could laugh at himself, dedicated to doing what was right. Godspeed, Mike.

Becky Miller

February 3, 2004

Mike used to say the he believed in the three "B's:" Be Bright, Be Brief and Be Gone. That statement is so much him both humorous and insightful.

Bright - who was brighter. Bright in the best ways. A clear, comprehensive understanding of the law, but contemplating that law in the context of the human situation to which it applied.

Be Brief - for Mike this seemed to be expressed not just in his cogent comments, but his being brief made more time for others to express their ideas and for him to exercise his dedication to listening to others, be they brief or otherwise, to locate the value that he expected them to give.

Be Gone - he meant this in the context of moving on, getting out of the way of others, but now it takes on another meaning. He has gone on to better things, his heavenly reward. We are all left wishing he was still here.

Judy Mazo

February 3, 2004

Mike was a good person, a good friend, and an important presence in the ERISA community. We will miss him.

Joan M. Brown

February 3, 2004

While I worked alongside him only briefly, Michael Gordon was a great resource to those of us working in ERISA. He was kind and listened, working always for the best solution. He will be missed.

Paul R. Edwards

February 3, 2004

Mike was a leading Technical Advisor to our Coalition for Retirement Security, a national grass roots org. Mike was also a champion to pensioners going back to helping write the ERISA legislation. I knew Mike from the 70's when I was Co-Chair of the pre-ERISA Pension Losers' Committee,(grass roots) and as Chair of the Citizens' Commission on Pension Policy,another grass roots org. Mike also played a significant role in helping form the NLRN, a legislative off-shoot of the CRS.

Mike also served on the advisory board of the Pension Rights Center in Washington, DC. Mike Gordon will be missed by all of us.

Frank Cummings

February 3, 2004

Mike was that rare and wonderful mixture of intelligence and integrity, decency and diligence, and creativeness. What an utterly grand friend he was, and how we will all miss him!

Showing 1 - 36 of 36 results