L. Gordon Croft

Born to Annie (Della) and Russell Gordon Croft in Port Tobacco, Maryland, on October 27, 1932, Gordon Croft passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving children, on September 5, 2025. Gordon's legacy as a successful entrepreneur, financier, professor, philanthropist, engineer, and businessman are only outweighed by his enduring role as the ultimate family man, the position he adored most of all. Gordon is now reunited with the love of his life and wife of 62 years, Jane Aurell Croft, and his beloved dogs, Nelly, Belle, Dixie, and Holly-"in a place where your arm never tires from throwing the ball for your pups." Gordon is survived by his children; daughter Carol (Croft) Linde and husband, Doug; sons, Kent Croft and wife, Nancy, and Russell Croft and wife, Ericka, and his nine grandchildren who, in Grandaddy's twinkling blue eyes, have always been "the bee's knees": Kate, Maddie, & Sam Linde; Dylan & Eliza Croft; and Shapard, George, Blake & Tennybelle Croft. Gordon grew up in "God's Country" and was very proud of his Southern Maryland roots. Reared on a small tobacco farm and educated in a one-room school-house, Gordon's story is truly one of the American Dream. The only boy in his class and the first in his family to attend college, Gordon received a scholarship through Charles County Public Schools to study engineering at Johns Hopkins University in 1952. He worked three jobs to send money home to his siblings-including one parking cars at the Hopkins Club, where the staff was allowed to play pool and poker after-hours. This is where Gordon said he earned most of his money during college, along with learning valuable lessons about the stock market, which he described as "one big game of poker." Gordon graduated from Hopkins in 1956, with a bachelor's degree in Engineering. He later was named a National Institute of Public Affairs Fellow, sponsored by the Ford Foundation, and received a master's degree in Engineering from George Washington University. He then studied at Indiana University where he completed a two-year master's program in Finance in a single year. After taking as many master's and PhD classes in finance as he could, Gordon decided to shift his professional life from engineering to money management. After beginning his career as an engineer at the Indian Head Naval Surface Weapons Center, where he also served in the Army Corp of Engineers, Gordon joined T. Rowe Price in 1967. He eventually rose to Director at T. Rowe, managing the Growth & Income Fund, University Endowments, and Pension Funds. Gordon was widely known as a "contrarian" and a "maverick" in both business and life, and when, after a highly successful 22 years, he decided to leave T. Rowe Price to start his own firm, its spokesman called him "one of the best money managers in the country." In 1989, Gordon founded Croft-Leominster with his son, Kent, later joined by his son, Russell-a highly-regarded, family-run investment management firm with a nationwide clientele. Gordon loved working with his sons, and continued full days in the office into his 80s-simply for the joy of being with "his boys." With all his success, Gordon never forgot his roots. From the beat-up pick-up trucks he drove to the modest home he and Jane shared for sixty years on L'Hirondelle Club Road, he was as authentic and salt-of-the-Earth as they come, and his true life's work was in helping others. Gordon was highly philanthropic, with the overriding goal of giving educational opportunities to deserving individuals who otherwise would not have them-paying forward the opportunities he had been granted. Often with a focus on helping those from his beloved Charles County, Gordon endowed dozens of scholarships at Johns Hopkins, Dartmouth College, Washington & Lee University, Randolph College, University of Maryland, and College of Southern Maryland. Named Johns Hopkins Distinguished Alumnus in 2006, his commitment to his alma mater was far-reaching and long-lasting. This devotion was recognized in 2013 when the newest engineering building on Hopkins' campus was named Croft Hall, in his honor. Additionally, Gordon's contribution to the Charles County Schools was tremendous-from donating laptops for students who do not have access to technology in their homes, 3D printers, and sports equipment to establishing STEM programs and athletic teams. His generosity touched so many lives–through dozens of causes that were close to his heart–and truly knew no bounds. Gordon's mantra was "Never give up": a spirit that defined his life–full of instances of making the impossible possible. His benefaction was consistently focused on bolstering others with talent and tremendous work ethic, enriching their lives and ensuring that they, too, would never give up. This generous spirit, forward-thinking mind, and contrarian nature served Gordon well in his life and has created a path for success for many others. While Gordon's accolades and accomplishments were many, anyone who was fortunate enough to witness the tenderness with which he lit up around Jane, his children, grandchildren, and his pups knows his loving, devoted family was his life's greatest accomplishment. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation with checks payable to The Boys & Girls Club of Southern Maryland at this address: The Gordon Croft Clubhouse, Boys & Girls Club of Southern Maryland-Indian Head, 9021 Dayton Ave, P.O. Box 413, North Beach, MD 20714-0361