Ben Gordon, 74, of New Orleans, Louisiana passed away Wednesday, November 1, 2023 at Brasstown Manor in Hiawassee, Georgia. He was born May 19, 1949 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to the late John French and Marie Honore Hofelich Gordon. Ben was a graduate of Franklin Pierce College in Rindge, New Hampshire, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, There he developed an interest in the Environmental movement and the Anti-Vietnam War movement. He later joined Maryknoll working overseas in the Philippines from 1973-1980. He was most recently active with Pax Christi, the Delta Greens Greenpeace, Veterans for Peace, and several other activist groups. Ben worked as a respiratory therapist for more than 30 years while living in New Orleans with Charity Hospital and Tulane Hospital. Ben's devotion to his work and his love of serving others kept him in New Orleans through many devasting hurricanes. Ben relied on faith to keep going and points out two phrases which reflect his philosophy…"Live Simply so that others may Simply Live" and "As long as there is One Person who is Oppressed, we will all be Oppressed". Surviving are two sisters, Judy Carlin and husband, Peter of Sarasota, Florida and Trish Nicholas and husband, John of Hayesville, North Carolina; three brothers, John Gordon and wife, Helen of Mill Spring, North Carolina, Peter Gordon and wife, Dawn of Sarasota, Florida, and Michael Gordon of Asheville, North Carolina; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and great nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Life will be held and announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in memory of Ben Gordon to Doctors Without Borders USA, P.O. Box 5030, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5030, donate.doctorswithoutborders.org or Hope House, 916 St. Andrew's Street, New Orleans, LA 70130. Ivie Funeral Home, Hayesville, NC, in charge of arrangements. An online guest register is available at www.iviefuneralhome.com.

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Published by The Times-Picayune from Nov. 4 to Nov. 5, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Ben Gordon

Sponsored by Ivie Funeral Home - Hayesville.

8 Entries

Johnny Zokovitch, Executive Director, Pax Christi USA

November 7, 2023

Dear Gordon family, I just learned of Ben's passing and wanted to share my condolences and the sympathies of all of us at Pax Christi USA. Ben was an engaged member, and I am grateful for the many times that I got to spend with him. When I became executive director in 2019, I would hear from Ben by email or call about every other month or so. Ben was always generous, kind, and supportive of our collective work, and I am so sorry at this loss. Please let us know if there is anything we can do. I will make sure to remember Ben's life and witness at one of our prayer services in Advent.

Ann Maier

November 5, 2023

Ben was a memorable part of social justice and environmental justice work in New Orleans. His positive attitude was an asset to the many, many meetings and gatherings he attended. Ben took the time and effort to be physically present. He wore many pins and badges, reminding us all of the wide range of possibilities to stand for justice and be present as a witness for positive action.

Brooke Randolph

November 5, 2023

Ben was an active participant in Justice and Beyond New Orleans and was admired and loved by the pillars of the civil rights organization. In the last few months he often joined the meetings on Zoom. It was a joy to hear his voice, his sentiments and to know he was still in the fight for justice! He will be so missed.

Pam Nath

November 5, 2023

Ben generously shared his time and energy to make this world a better place.

Here he is in August 2009 doing work on a community center in St Bernard neighborhood of New Orleans that had been damaged in Hurricane Katrina. This captures Ben´s spirit: always willing to lend a hand and do the hard work

Beth Butler

November 4, 2023

Beth Butler

November 4, 2023

Beth Butler

November 4, 2023

Rest in Power and Peace, Fine Soldier - Ben Gordon
Activists and organizers throughout the New Orleans area knew and respected Ben Gordon. There he was throughout the decades, invariably with his trusty bike, at simply almost every action possible. He helped organize many actions.
His presence and fire were natural, he had no self ambitions but to further the cause. He was seamlessly comfortable with Black people and those from all income levels.
He boldly supported so many campaigns and groups, his loss is unimaginable.
These two photos are of Ben caught in action -- one was the Guerrilla Donation Days run by A Community Voice when New Orleans had ten thousand evacuees from the Lake Charles area due to the hurricane. We had to hurry to get the donations out before the police constantly moved us --- donations were from the Katrina survivor members of ACV, who wanted so badly to "give back". Mutual Aid on the Street.
Another photo is of Ben at a Fight the Expansion of the Industrial Canal/No Flooding campaign in the Lower 9th Ward.
Fondly, we remember him and take his spirit with us in our organizing and fights.
Beth Butler
A Community Voice - ACORN
New Orleans, LA

ALICIA PLUMMER

November 4, 2023

I´m so sorry to read of Ben´s passing. I would see him at community meetings in New Orleans....always standing up for what was right. I offer sincere condolences to his Family. Ben was a great human being.

Alicia Plummer
New Orleans, Louisiana

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