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GWENDOLYN GORDON Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for GWENDOLYN GORDON
Judith Marks
December 29, 2024
Remembering sweet Gwen every time I have a cup of Lady Grey tea, a tea we enjoyed at my house in Princeton when she was working on her PhD there. Still can´t believe you are no longer with us, Gwen. RIP.
Elaine G Randolph
August 23, 2023
Dear Gwen, your passing has left a hole in the hearts of many but I have no doubt you are shining bright wherever you are. I love you and miss you! Love Aunt Elaine
Judith M. Marks
August 22, 2023
Still can´t believe you are gone, dear Gwen. Miss our discussions at Princeton over tea at our house.
Jacqueline Gordon Shreeves
August 21, 2023
Dear Gwen you will not be able to read this. I've told you I love you. I really do you are one of the kindest sweetest most humble persons I ever my met. God bless you with so many talents and gifts. I am so proud of you my daughter. I will always think of you and be sad. Missing you. But thank God for the wonderful 41 years with you that he gave us.
Cole W.
March 6, 2023
We miss you, Gwen! I´ll never forget how you helped me go after my dreams and shoot my first short film while at HLS. I never thanked you enough for that. So I´m doing it now. I hope that we can all continue to fight for justice and equity in your memory. Much love, Cole
Judi Marks
February 14, 2023
Gwen, wish you could come over for another cup of Lady Grey tea, as you did when we both lived in Princeton. RIP, dear lady.
Judith Marks
December 29, 2022
Remembering you today, Gwen...the world lost a bright star a year ago and we still mourn. Love, Mrs. Judi Marks
Kate Pourshariati
January 20, 2022
Hello, I hope this would be good to hear, I know memories were very helpful when my mother passed on too young. Gwen came to speak for a film about New Zealand and Tonga just last year for us at the Penn Museum. It was really impressive how sweetly and humbly she spoke despite her credentials and intellect, I guess she was one of those people who keep perspective no matter how they rise. I was really honored that she would come to speak, online, on her Sunday day off, and she helped everyone to understand some of the bicultural issues that a person from Tonga might experience living and working in New Zealand, among many other topics the film brought up. I wish now that I had time to thank her again, but I can express my thanks to you her family. Keep well and take heart. With my affection, Kate
Benjamin Fogarty-Valenzuela
January 13, 2022
My sincerest condolences. I am very happy to have had the chance to meet Gwen in graduate school - asides from her kind and heartfelt presence, she was always a pleasure to be around. She will continue to be a source of inspiration to us all.
Lauretta Tomasco
January 13, 2022
When I think of Gwen, a particular Bible verse comes to mind. Each time that Bible verse came to mind during the time I spent together with Gwen in our Department of Legal Studies & Business Ethics, I would often send it to her to share it with her to let her know that I was thinking about her as I knew life was not always easy for her. She always responded with gratefulness. Here is the verse:
The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.
(Numbers 6: 24-26)
Gwen and I worked together in the social impact concentration area. It was a great time for me as I learned a lot from Gwen.
- Gwen cared about the students very much.
- We worked closely together in getting the foundation course together when she taught it. She invited such wonderful, impactful, and articulate guest speakers into her classroom when she taught the foundation course. These guest speakers seemed to have related so well to the students. And, also, the students seem to have responded well to the speakers as indicated by their participation in the classroom.
- She gave great thought and care into the concentration by way of keeping up-to-date with the actual course selections and the ways in which students could fulfill the experiential component requirement.
- We met regularly to discuss the concentration and the students. She was always open to my suggestions too and would incorporate our ideas together to improve the concentration.
- She cared deeply about making the world better through the students and the work that they did connected to the concentration- especially regarding their choices for the experiential component.
- In summary, Gwen was a very loving, caring, and gifted person whose life made the world better for all those people to whom were privileged to have met her!
Peter Locke
January 10, 2022
Gwen was a friend and an unusually kind, luminous presence when we overlapped in graduate school at Princeton. Though I haven't had the chance to see her in years, I'm flooded with memories of her warmth, humility, and humanity, from the time she swung by my office exuberant about a bound copy of a massive fan fiction novel she'd recently finished, to the wonderful leather loveseat she lent me when she went to the field (and then gifted) and on which I logged many happy hours of procrastination and conversation with friends. The world is dimmer for her loss and I only hope that I can honor her example in my own life. We love you, Gwen.
Karen Ho
January 7, 2022
My deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathies to all of Gwen's loved ones. As a fellow anthropologist, I had the opportunity to meet her only a few times at conferences and school events, but each time, I was struck by her sense of humor, her brilliant presence, and her grounded kindness and sense of self. She will be so dearly missed.
Lin Gan
January 7, 2022
Lin Gan
January 7, 2022
Lin Gan
January 7, 2022
I found out this morning that Gwen passed away. I remember meeting her for the first time as a fresh-faced college freshman in August of 2000 for orientation at Cornell. She was my Resident Advisor and gave us a tour of Balch Hall. The world back then was so new. I remember her energy, the bounce in her step as she showed us her room and introduced those storied hallways that were built almost 80 years ago, when some of the first women Cornellians lived and studied in these rooms, many of which still had servant quarters attached.
She was a junior at the time and the first person I ever met from Georgia. She gave off the sense that nothing in life could ever be difficult. That whatever she touched turned to gold. I looked up to her brimming with adulation as she was one of the first student leaders and role models who were there to guide us, a group of clueless freshmen, on how to navigate college and in some ways, life itself. I envied her maturity, her confidence, her poise and grace. She represented to us what a successful student and campus leader is. It´s weird the things that stick in your memory. As she explained the campus and dorm rules to us, she instructed us how to use the blue lights which were placed all over campus for emergency calls. She called them pretty and for whatever reason, I loved that and it stuck with me so that in the later years when I did freshman orientation with my own residents, I used the same term, calling them "pretty blue lights." It was from those interactions with her that I decided to become a resident advisor as well. She inspired me from the start.
Years later when she began teaching at Penn, my alma mater, I made it a point to meet up with her each time I was in Philadelphia. I loved her perspective and read a few books she recommended. She filmed me in 2019 talking about meditation. It´s precious little of her preserved in a video that didn´t capture her image but if you listen carefully, you can hear her encouraging feedback over the noisy background of the restaurant. Decades have passed since we met in the 5-4 section of Balch Hall. So much has changed and yet, I still look up to her. Her kindness, thoughtful nature, and humility inspires me to the end. Rest easy bright star.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntam3cjMU94
Laurel B.
January 6, 2022
To add to the chorus of adoration, I just remember Gwen from law school. She was consistently and genuinely kind and sweet with a warm smile.
I send my best wishes for peace and comfort to her family, friends, and loved ones.
Megan Steffen
January 6, 2022
I want to offer my condolences to Gwen's family and share a brief memory. Gwen and I met during grad school, where she was brilliant, kind, and generous to me when I was just finding my footing. Gwen could navigate any social situation regardless of whether it required enthusiastic irreverence or serious erudition. Just before the pandemic, we got to spend time together while she was in Berkeley. The last time I saw her was at my house during a karaoke party. She could really sing, and she did a stellar rendition of "The Gambler" by Kenny Rogers. It's difficult to imagine never hearing her voice again. I feel so lucky to have gotten to spend time with her, and I'll miss her so much.
Karlea J
January 6, 2022
I was surprised and saddened to hear the news of Gwen's passing. We were childhood friends. I remember playing with her when she was a toddler and making her laugh. She was such a beautiful child. Although I have not seen Gwen in many, many years, I will always enjoy my fond memories of moments our families shared when she and I were children.
On behalf of my entire family, I send prayers, love and condolences to Ms. Jacqueline, Drew, David and Aaron.
Naomi Mezey
January 6, 2022
As a legal scholar who deeply admired Gwen and her scholarship, I am heartbroken by her passing. Sending love and sympathy to Gwen's mother, brothers, and extended family.
Brian Feinstein
January 6, 2022
I will long remember Gwen's kindness, sensitivity, and keen sense of justice. Most of all, I'll remember her bravery. Her willingness to stand up for what she believed in, sometimes against more senior colleagues, was brave. Her scholarship also was brave: traveling to all corners of the globe to conduct field research, and bridging a divide between anthropology, law, and business. May her memory be a blessing to her family, friends, colleagues, and students.
Vanessa Wigfall
January 6, 2022
Gwen you will be missed. We love you. From the Wigfall and Smith (Maxam) families
Elvita Dominique
January 6, 2022
I spent the summer of 2006 with Gwen and a few of our friends studying for the Bar Examination. Studying for the bar was terrible but it was made manageable and dare I say fun because I had Gwen as a companion in the journey. This was one of many experiences we shared together as law students, where I was able to experience her kindness, warmth, and wit. I also saw just how committed she was to walking her own path and pursuing her own interests. I value very much the time I had with her. She touched many lives including mine. I send my condolences to her family.
Deborah Bowers
January 5, 2022
My sincerest condolences to the family of Ms Gwen Gordon. I remember meeting her when she was a small girl in Atlanta as a friend of her Uncle Dee & Aunt Robin. Such huge accomplishments and such a great loss.
Ariela Gross
January 5, 2022
Gwen was a brilliant scholar and a kind, warm person. Those of us in the law and humanities community who were lucky enough to know her will miss her enormously. May her memory be a blessing to her family, friends, and all who knew her.
Gordon Crawford
January 5, 2022
Gwen you have always been a inspiration to all, living a life that not many could do with 5 life times.
Having the courage to enter the unknown with the curiosity of an explorer, the brilliance of a scholar, and now once again you embark into the unknown. Not with fear, but with the spirit of an adventurer, eager to see life from a new perspective. We love you always, you represent the best of us. The lesson you leave with us, is never be afraid to push the limits of what you can achieve. Dream well, and explore the mysteries of the universe.
I love you cousin, now and forever.
Samson, Tyra, Kairos and Yara Ann
January 5, 2022
Gwendolyn had a million dollar smile and always had something encouraging to say. We are so sorry for your loss. Praying for the Gordon family.
Elaine G Randolph
January 5, 2022
From the very beginning we knew God had placed a special angel in our midst. Like others, we recognized how beautiful, talented, brilliant, witty, and charming Gwen was. We had the opportunity to witness Gwen's independence, courageous, and caring nature. She was definitely loved by her cousins and aunts.(Virginia and Ft. Lauderdale branches) Gwen, you are now free to spread your wings and not be "Earthbound " but travel amongst the "heavens and stars ". Until we meet again! Gwen we love you! "The Aunties" Aunt Elaine, Aunt Dorothy, Aunt Gail, Aunt Maxine (Also known as the Gordon Girls)
Oscar
January 5, 2022
Gwen was such a wonderful person and scholar. I appreciate deeply her devotion to connecting and supporting other scholars of color. She will be missed greatly but her legacy will live forever. My condolences and prayers to the family.
Christopher Young
January 5, 2022
Words cannot express the blow this was for our family learning of the loss of a truly amazing and beautiful soul. I met Gwen through my now wife and the friendship those two had was such a joy to see. I developed a good friendship with her and our kids did as well. We last spoke about something we both love about a month ago...music. The plans of getting together may be cancelled but you are always with us. We love you Gwen! Rest in peace dear friend.
Dexter Alexander Culbreath
January 5, 2022
What a gem. I met Gwen in high school. I can still remember her smile and kindest heart. It blesses me to read her obituary and these messages to see how much she blessed others...
Matthew Erie
January 5, 2022
I met Gwen when I was a postdoc at Princeton in 2013. We talked a lot about the (fraught) relationship of law and anthropology. I loved how she talked about her fields. I found her ethnographic writing to be brilliant and immersive. She had her own voice. She once said that legal anthros were like the island of misfit toys. Well, I hope you have found your never-never land, Gwen.
Judith Marks
January 4, 2022
I had the privilege of being Gwen´s school counselor and then was able to see her frequently when we were both in Princeton, NJ. The world has lost a bright light. RIP, dear Gwen.
Cousins from North Carolina, Sallie Gordon Holmes-Gray, Bonita Gordon Bowma
January 4, 2022
Our hearts are sadden by the loss of our dear cousin. Gwen Gordon will be missed by all that knew her. Our prayers goes out to her mother Jacqueline, brothers: Andrew, David, and Aaron. May God continue to keep and bless you and the love of your family and friends be with you now and forever more. We love you.
James and Marie Stodghill
January 4, 2022
Your family is in our prayers. We are so sorry for your loss!
Jenny
January 4, 2022
Jenny
January 4, 2022
Jenny
January 4, 2022
Jenny
January 4, 2022
Such sad news, Gwen was such a good friend-- a rare combination of brilliant, kind, and funny. I will miss her dearly. Sending warm thoughts to all who knew her during this difficult time. Sharing a few photos from my wedding a few years ago, because somehow I have loads of photos of the things we ate & drank, but so few photos of her.
Carolyn Rouse
January 4, 2022
Carolyn Rouse
January 4, 2022
Carolyn Rouse
January 4, 2022
Carolyn Rouse
January 4, 2022
The Department of Anthropology at Princeton is devastated by Gwendolyn's passing. Her mentors and graduate cohort adored, loved, and respected her. Anthropology colleagues outside of Princeton have been writing in to express their sense of loss as well. Gwen was brilliant, collegial, and represented the future of our discipline. Please accept our sincere and heartfelt condolences.
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