John "Jack" A. Gordon

John A. "Jack" Gordon passed away Wednesday, January 16 at his home in New Orleans. Jack was born in 1926 in Chicago. He grew up in Chicago and Waterbury, CT before his family moved to New Orleans in 1941. Jack never left. Jack attended Jesuit High School, and graduated from Tulane Law School. He served in the Navy during World War II and as a result he was made a member of the Louisiana State Bar without ever having to take the bar exam, a fact he proudly and carefully explained to all new lawyers in the law firm. Jack began his legal career in 1951. He joined the firm of Doyle, Smith and Doyle in 1954, where he became a partner with his close friend Blake Arata, specializing in oil and gas and energy law. On February 1, 1970, Jack, Blake Arata and John McCollam formed a new law firm, Gordon, Arata & McCollam. That firm, which still bears their name, now has 60 lawyers in 4 offices in Louisiana and Texas. Jack practiced law continuously for 62 years. Jack's civic involvement included serving as General Counsel to the Sewerage & Water Board and President of the Audubon Commission. Jack was an accomplished sailor and a regular figure in the regattas at the Bay-Waveland Yacht Club, where he met his wife, Betty Anne Lapeyre. They kept a summer home there for over 25 years. Jack always loved the outdoors and the Fall always found him duck hunting in the Louisiana marshes. Jack also developed a keen interest in his golf game, where he might have been less successful than in his sailing or hunting. Jack was a world class raconteur. His stories are legendary, and sometimes true. He took a great interest in the young people in his law firm, where he is revered as a leader, mentor and friend. Jack had a regular table at Galatoire's, where he stood watch for over 50 years. His friends plan to meet there Friday for one more in a long line of celebrations. He was a member of the New Orleans Country Club, Southern Yacht Club, Rex, Pickwick Club and the Stratford Club. In addition to his wife, Jack is survived by his daughter Betsy, son John Jr., brother Carroll and his wife, Evie Gordon of Bay Saint Louis, and his sister, Kay and Joe Hansen of Knoxville, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and innumerable friends, including his best four-legged friend, Sammy. He is preceded in death by his parents, Marie Keogh Gordon and William Raymond Gordon, and his brother William Alexander Gordon. Relatives and friends are invited to a Funeral Mass at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church on Monday, January 21, 2013 at 11:00 am. Visitation from 9:30 until service time. Contributions to the Audubon Institute, 423 Canal St., NOLA 70130 preferred. To sign the family guest book please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com.