Gordon Dillon

The ribbon is dry and tattered. W. Gordon Dillon left this world on December 11, 2024, 10 days after his 95th birthday for his next chapter.
It would take a novel to describe the life experiences of Gordon Dillon, which began in 1929 during the Great Depression. Coming from North Carolina sharecroppers, (his father and grandfather), he achieved accolades in his profession of journalism, but he also accomplished something much greater: a warm and loving family of which he was very proud. He was also proud of his heritage, being able to trace the Dillon family back over 300 years ago when they immigrated from Ireland.
Gordon Dillon, former publisher, editor, and founder of The Virginia Observer in 1963 in Norfolk, Va., was the last of the news crusaders, having won national awards by exposing highway fraud by local officials. The Virginia Observer won the National Journalism Award along with Helen Dewar of the Washington Post and Jim Large of the Wall Street Journal. In addition, Gordon was the longtime Vice President of the Local Tidewater Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. The Virginia Observer won a national award and was invited to a ceremony at the White House when Jimmy Carter was President.
In 1962, while working for The Virginian Pilot and Ledger Star, Gordon ran unsuccessfully for the Virginia House of Delegates, fighting the utility companies for overcharging their customers. His fight against corruption led him to found The Virginia Observer. Gordon's reporting in his newspaper saved the Norfolk School Board millions of dollars by exposing corruption in the Norfolk School System. Over one million dollars was saved annually, which was an incredible amount of money in the 1970's. He exposed city officials (including a judge) who created a company that bought land knowing that it was slated to have a highway routed through it. He also exposed corruption at the federal level, consequently forcing the Nixon Administration to fire a cabinet official.
His ancestor, Lt. Benjamin Dillon, was killed in the battle of Eutaw Springs, South Carolina, on September 8, 1781, in the American Revolutionary War. Lt. Dillon contributed to Washington's victory in Yorktown by holding back the British and keeping them from fortifying Cornwallis's troops. Gordon's great grandfather, Doctrine Dillon, and great uncle, Benjamin H. Dillon, both served and were killed in action in the Union Army during the Civil War. He was very proud to have had ancestors that not only helped CREATE our nation, but also helped PRESERVE it.
Gordon got his first job at age 13 unloading box cars, but he wanted to escape his difficult life. WWII was over and the Army wanted new bodies; anybody! At the age of 16, he joined up and loved it, but was discharged when they found out his age. He immediately joined the Merchant Marines and later the Marines Corp.
After the Army and his world travels, he came back to Norfolk to attend Maury High School. During that time, he met Faye Virginia Johnson and fell in love. They married in 1950, a few months before he turned 21. They had a wonderful marriage of 53 years and had four children, two girls and two boys; Debbie, Donna, Bill, and Drew. His beloved wife Faye passed away in 2004. Gordon met Theresa Lombardi in 2007, and they married in 2013. He had a wonderful life with Terri who took care of him and had a great time cruising the world together.
He was a staunch defender of democracy, being able to quote many famous past leaders, including Thomas Jefferson and John F. Kennedy. His favorite quote from JFK: "One man can make a difference, and every man should try." If reincarnation exists, in Gordon there was a trace of John Locke, Thomas Payne, James Madison, and most assuredly Thomas Jefferson.
Gordon is survived by his wife, Theresa Mary Lombardi Dillon, daughters Deborah Dillon-Townes (Lawrence) and Donna Dillon Stockburger (Bill), sons William G. Dillon, Jr. (Mary) and John Drew Dillon. His grandchildren are: Dana Onyewu (Nonye), Patrick Dillon-Townes, Hayley Dillon-Townes, David Stockburger, Karen Stockburger Jones, (Elihu) Gregory Stockburger (Erin), Sydney Dillon Bochicchio (Jack), Lexi Dillon, and Miranda Dillon. And 11 great grandchildren!
A newspaperman till the end, he was very concerned about government corruption. He never gave up fighting. He went through life with a good conscious, trying to improve the lives of others and hopefully inspiring others as well. -30-
Family visitation will be held at Altmeyer Funeral Home, 5033 Rouse Dr., Va. Beach, Va., from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday, December 15, and a church service will be held at Royster Memorial Church, 6901 Newport Ave. Norfolk at December 16 at 1:00 p.m. Graveside service to follow immediately. Reception at the church following the graveside service. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.