James Nicholas Jordan

1938 - 2025

James Nicholas Jordan

March 7, 2025

New York, N.Y. - James Nicholas Jordan, professor emeritus of philosophy, died March 7, 2025 at his home in New York City. He was 86.

A native of Texas, Nick, as he was known to his many friends, moved to New York's Upper West Side with his wife Cathleen (Gunn) Jordan, a fellow Texan, in June 1970. And never looked back.

Despite a bit of a Texas twang he couldn't shake, Nick was consummate New Yorker. He gave up his car upon making the city home, finding a variety of restaurants, along with dry cleaners, hardware and grocery stores, banks and whatever he and Cathleen would need just a short walk down their block to Columbus Avenue.

The two had met at the University of Texas at Austin, and married in 1961 when Cathleen was in her junior year and Nick was a graduate student. After finishing there, the couple later went on the the University of South Dakota, where Nick headed the philosophy department and Cathleen earned a master's degree.

Next came the Big Apple. Nick joined the faculty at Queens College, where he was a philosophy professor till his retirement in 2019. Among his published works was the 1987 book "Western Philosophy: From Antiquity to the Middle Ages."

The Jordans were early and active members of the West 69th Street Block Association, a pioneering neighborhood group, helping with block party fund-raisers, annual Halloween celebrations that earned citywide notice, planting trees and assisting seniors in the neighborhood.

They became fast friends with, among others, down-the block neighbors Penny Shaw and the late Peter Shaw, also a college professor, enjoying meals out at the local Chinese spot Empire Szechuan, and discussing the latest goings on in the city, movies, books and other cultural notes.

Nick, born in Houston in 1938 and the oldest of three brothers was predeceased by his wife Cathleen and a brother. He is survived by many close friends from West 69th Street to the rest of New York City, Texas to Maine to North Carolina and elsewhere. Also, a brother, and two nieces. And his kitty cat, Meadow.

An avid follower of current events, Nick will be remembered as a good listener and a kind and generous man.

Service, March 31, 11 a.m. at Christ & St. Stephen's Church, 120 W. 69th St., New York City.