Gordon McLeod

Gordon McLeod, 93, of San Mateo, California passed away peacefully on the beautiful fall afternoon of September 10, 2016. He was visited by family and friends in person and by phone just before he died. He was born in Vancouver, B.C. on July 16, 1923 to John and Ada McLeod and was the fifth of five children. Gordon grew up in San Mateo where he developed the hobby of beekeeping in his family's backyard and graduated San Mateo High School at age 16. After high school he traveled to Alaska to work with his brother in mining where he got a job doing manual labor. Throughout his life, he referred to his Alaska experience as challenging and as an incentive to further develop his skills. He learned Morse code, learned how to operate a ham radio and served in WWII as a radio operator on a Merchant Marine supply ship in the South Pacific. He truly was the top Information Officer who was privy to classified information. After the war, he returned to San Mateo where he met and fell in love with May Wold. He proposed to her at Coit Tower followed by cocktails at the Mark Hopkins Hotel to celebrate their engagement. They were married at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Burlingame in 1947, settled in San Mateo and enjoyed 59 years together. Gordon continued his radio work, as a hobby, and made friends all over the world before the internet was available. He moved into sales in the automotive industry and later earned his real estate broker's license in 1964. He opened McLeod and Associates Realty, first on 25th Avenue, then on El Camino Real, which he successfully operated until his retirement in 1997. During the economic downturns of the '70s and '80s, Gordon worked as a radio operator on supply ships again in the South Pacific. He was fortunate to weather the ups and downs of the real estate market during those years. Gordon was quick with a joke, most corny, some racy, but always resulting in a laugh, smile, groan, or smirk. One of his true passions was fishing. Whether out the 'Gate for salmon, up the river for salmon, or in the Sierra for trout, he was game to go. One of his favorite recurring trips was to Diamond Lake in Oregon over Memorial Day weekend. He always reminisced about that over the years at the end of each May. Gordon was a member of the San Mateo Elks Lodge #1112, a life member of the San Mateo Masonic Lodge #226, a member of the Sons in Retirement and a member of the San Mateo High School monthly lunch group of which there are three remaining members. He also had three dear friends, John Pancallo of San Mateo, Stan Humphrey of San Mateo and Frank Grant of Millbrae who he spoke with daily. All of them called or visited Gordon the day he died. Gordon is survived by his daughter, Linda McLeod Murphy of Alamo, CA, son-in-law Mark Murphy and granddaughters Allison, Ellen and Jane Murphy and by his son, Ron McLeod of Austin, TX, daughter-in-law Rebecca and grandsons Sam and Josh Lawson, his niece Carol McLeod Wilson of Hillsborough, CA , nephew-in-law Dr. John S. Wilson, grand nephew Jeffrey Wilson, grand niece Annie (Nils Snekkevik) and great grand nephew Wil Snekkevik and great grand niece Sonja Snekkevik. He was preceded in death by his wife May, sisters Edna and Jessie and brothers Harold and Frank. Gordon's family is so grateful for the help and care provided by Home Instead caregivers Carolina Ganodauz and Fe Bautista and our close family friend Sally Taylor. In addition, the care and attention Gordon received from Summit Hospice was truly appreciated. Marethel Bautista, Maudon Nguyen, Dennis Duhaylungsod and Giannina Torcende helped Gordon and his family make this transition so peaceful.