Bruce P. Gordon

Bruce P. Gordon, Commander U.S. Navy, retired

Chula Vista, Calif. - Bruce Phillips Gordon, previously a resident of the New London, Groton, and Niantic areas of Connecticut, died peacefully at his home at 27 San Miguel Drive, in Chula Vista, Calif., on July 23, 2005, surrounded by his loving family after a three month struggle with cancer of the esophagus.

Bruce was born on Sept. 28, 1927 in Minneapolis, Minn., son of the late Morris and Violet Gordon. The family moved to Milwaukee where he grew up and enlisted in the Navy in 1945. Volunteering for submarine service led him to New London where he met Harriet M. Cremins in 1946 at the NCCS Servicemen's Club which met in the Knights of Columbus Home on Huntington Street. They were married at St. Mary's Star of the Sea Church on May 12, 1951.

Following graduation from Sub School in December 1946, he served on the USS Bushnell (AS-15); the USS Blackfin (SS322); USS Sealion (SSP315); and was plankowner on USS Grenadier (SS525). After thirteen years of submarine service, Bruce was promoted to chief and later selected for Officer's Candidate School in Newport R.I., graduating in 1958.

After Navy Line School in Monterey, Calif., his naval career included destroyer service, command of a minesweeper and inspector general on one of many Vietnam tours. In 1965, they settled in Chula Vista, Calif., and after 31 years of naval service, Bruce retired with the rank of commander in 1975.

Thereafter, following his lifelong dream to attend college, he enrolled in Southwestern College and after graduation, he also attended classes at San Diego State University.

Bruce became an active volunteer, serving as a watchkeeper and speaker for the Tallship Californian, speaker for the San Diego Blood Bank and donator, volunteer for the South Bay Christmas Parade of Lights, Red Cross CPR instructor, docent for the San Diego Maritime Museum, member of the Tall Ship Society, Chula Vista Yacht Club, Staff Commodore of Navy Yacht Club, and Kona Kai Yacht Club. The San Diego Association of Yacht Clubs awarded him the Alonzo deJessop Memorial Award for his outstanding service. He was also a proud member and supporter of the Mystic Seaport and Mystic Aquarium and visited whenever he was in this area.

Bruce is survived by his wife of 54 years, Harriet; daughter, Christine E. Gordon, of San Diego; son, Michael C. Gordon and his wife, Lisa, of Spring Valley, Calif.; two grandsons, Bruce Dylan Gordon, of Spring Valley, Calif., and Lance Corporal USMC Aaron Gordon who recently returned home on July 11th from his third tour in Iraq and is now stationed in 29 Palms, Calif.; brother-in-law, Charles F. Cremins, and wife, Caroline, of Spring Valley, Calif.; as well as several nieces and nephews.

Locally, he is survived by his sister-in-law, Marjorie C. Wilson Aubrey and her husband, Pete, of Niantic; four nephews, Robert and his wife Eileen, John and his wife Julie, and William and Patrick Wilson, of Niantic; and his niece, and God-daughter, Ellen Wilson Kozlowski and her husband Brian, of Duluth, GA., and their families.

A military funeral, complete with a family friend on bagpipe, and a 21 gun salute, was held at the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego. The service was officiated by Rev. Joseph G. Masar, Pastor of St. Pius X Catholic Church, in Chula Vista, Calif., on Aug. 11, 2005. A reception followed at the Admiral Kidd Club at the San Diego Naval Base.

Cremation was preformed by The Community Mortuary. The commodore of the Chula Vista Yacht Club, Mrs. Michelle Rountree-Wold, and her husband, Dick, arranged for his ashes to be scattered at sea by his family on Sunday, August 21, surrounded by a flotilla of twelve boats driven by his friends from the yachting community.

Donations in Bruce's memory may be made to the San Diego Maritime Museum, 1492 North Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101 or to the St. Vincent dePaul Village, 3350 E. Street, San Diego, CA 92192-3332.