Aron S. Gordon

ARON S. GORDON died Tuesday, November 13, 2001. He was 89. He was born on December 23, 1911, in Houston, Texas to M. M. and Ida Gordon. He attended the University of Texas from 1928 to 1930 and in the midst of the depression, he quit school to work for his father in the family business, Gordon's Jewelers. He served his country during WWII as an officer in the United States Navy. He was stationed in Pearl Harbor during 1944 to 1945 and served as a junior officer on the staff of Admiral Chester Nimitz. When the war ended, his group was invited to attend the signing of the Japanese surrender in September of 1945 in Tokyo Bay on the U.S.S. Missouri, instead he opted to return to his wife, children and the family business. His father started the Gordon Jewelers in 1905. When the company sold in 1989, he was Co-Chairman of the Board. Gordon Jewelers had become the second largest retail jeweler in the United States and was publicly listed on the N.Y.S.E. He had served on the following boards as a Director or Trustee: the Jewelers of America, Jewelry Industry Council, Texas Commerce Bank, Houston, the Houston Symphony, End Hunger Network, Houston Symphony Society, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Houston Performing Arts Association, M.D. Anderson board of visitors, the National Jewish Hospital in Denver and St. Joseph's Hospital. He was a former honoree of the American Jewish Committee - Jewelry Division Man of the Year. He and his wife, Anaruth, had been honored by both St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation and the Houston Youth Symphony & Ballet as Cultural Leader of the Year. He was also inducted into the Texas Business Hall of Fame in 1993. He was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Anaruth, in 1995 and also by his sister Bertha Miller. He is survived by his loving family, Daniel and Annette Gordon and their family, Kevin Gordon, Jason and Jennifer Gordon and William Gordon, Marcy and Mark Young; Thomas and Mary Ellen Gordon and their family, Leah, Bob, Thos, Colt and Isabel Halmi and Brian, Amy and Trevor Gordon; James and Nancy Gordon and their family, Ryan, Scott, and Matthew Gordon; and his brother Harry Gordon, Sr. The family wishes to extend special thanks to the care given by Janice Dobbins, Julius Brown and Rowanna Hubbard. A funeral service will be conducted at 10:30 in the morning on Thursday, November 15, 2001 in the Sanctuary of Congregation Beth Israel, 5600 N. Braeswood, under auspices of Rabbi Samuel E. Karff, Rabbi David A. Whiman and Cantor Robert Gerber. Interment will follow at Beth Israel Cemetery, 1101 Antoine. Pallbearers will be Bob Halmi, Kevin Gordon, Jason Gordon, Brian Gordon, Mark Young, Ryan Gordon, Scott Gordon and Matthew Gordon. Honorary pallbearers will be Thos Halmi, Colt Halmi, Trevor Gordon, William Gordon, W. Lowry Barfield, David Paul, Harry Gordon, Sr. and Gerald Gordon. In lieu of flowers and for those desiring, memorial contributions may be directed to Congregation Beth Israel, 5600 N. Braeswood, Houston, TX 77096, or a charity of your choice.