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Gordon Vandervort Obituary
Oct. 2, 1925 - Mar. 1, 2015
Dr. Gordon Lee Vandervort, 89, of Sparta, WI, died March 1, 2015. Born in Tomah, WI he moved to Sarasota in 2000 from Madison, WI. A veteran of the US Army, Gordon worked on the Manhattan Project from 1944 - 1945 at Penn State University. He graduated from the University of WI - Madison, with degrees in Physics, Chemistry, and a PhD in Astrophysics from the University of Virginia in 1958. Gordon loved music and played trumpet in the Army band. He worked as a physics professor in universities all over the world including, Puerto Rico, Indonesia, Afghanistan, Malaysia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Algeria, Turkey, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Germany, Virginia and New York. Gordon had a wonderful mind that was interested in everything and everybody. He will be remembered for his generosity, knowledge, humor, and countless stories of adventure.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Bernice; daughter, Emebet; brother, Donald (Shirley); sister, Charitine; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his beloved sister, Barbara Eddy. Gordon lived his life to the fullest and we will miss him.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Gordon Vandervort
2 Entries
Kazi Zulkader Siddiqui
August 23, 2025
Dr. Vandervort was my Physics professor at the Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey during my freshman year in 1969-1970. He was an amazing teacher. I wish I could get his photograph from the late 1960s period for my album.
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Judy Smith
March 15, 2015
We remember our good times in Ethiopia with Gordon,Bernie and Emebet. Gordon had the BEST stories! We will miss him.
Lynn & Judy
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