Harold Gordon

Harold Gordon passed away peacefully at Ivy Park Residential Care, surrounded by his loving family, on August 12, 2023. Born in Grodno, Poland, as Hirshiel Grodzienski, he lived with his family until age 10 when they were imprisoned in concentration camps for many years until he and his father were liberated from Auschwitz by US forces just before the end of the war. Harold moved to the United States after the war and met his devoted wife, Joyce when she was 13 and he was 17. He joined the US Army and served in the Korean War. Harold has given countless presentations in schools, churches and civic organizations to not only share his personal story, but also to provide his insights on the principles of forgiveness and ending the cycle of hatred as described in his book, The Last Sunrise. He has traveled all over the world with his family and loved going on adventures, meeting new people and experiencing life to the fullest. Harold and Joyce loved to dance and entertain friends in their home. A true patriarch in every sense, Harold leaves behind his wife of 72 years, Joyce, two sons Steven (Carol) and David (Diane), 9 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren.He is preceded in death by his mother, Bluma and younger brother Sender who both perished in the camps of Nazi Germany, as well as his father Ely, who lived in Southern California until his death in 1986. A funeral and remembrance ceremony will be held on Friday, August 18, at 11 am at Temple Beth El, 1212 Riker St. Salinas, CA 93901. Hors-d'oeuvres followed by light lunch will be served. If you wish to make a donation In lieu of flowers to honor Harold, you can forward to Temple Beth El in Salinas or to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC.