T. Gordon McMahon

McMAHON T. GORDON McMAHON (Age 56) On October 20, 2009. T. Gordon McMahon died at age 56 in New York City of multiple myeloma cancer. Gordon is survived by his wife, Dede Dalton McMahon and his three children, Katherine, Ryan and Rachel McMahon of New York City; his mother, Thelma McMahon of Washington, DC and sisters Doris McMahon of Florida and Diane McMahon of Milwaukee, WI. Gordon is also survived by his former wife, Karen Li of New York City. Gordon was born in Washington December 29, 1952 to Thelma and the late Thomas Anthony McMahon. He grew up in Washington where he attended Archbishop Carroll High School - a school that remained important to him throughout his life. He received his undergraduate degree in Psychology from Yale University and an MBA in Finance From Harvard Business School. After Harvard, Wall Street beckoned Gordon but he opted instead for the glamour and climate of California where he opened his first business venture, an ice cream parlor called "Just Desserts" but Wall Street still pursued him and in late 1976 the investment banking firm of Goldman Sachs convinced him that the real glamour was indeed on Wall Street and he began his career at the storied investment house. Gordon enjoyed phenomenal success at Goldman Sachs and, at age 31, was elected a general partner in the firm - the youngest partner ever up until that time. After retiring from Goldman in 1993, Gordon worked briefly for one of his former clients, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, but it was not long before Gordon realized that the business role he liked most was that of an entrepreneur and for the rest of his life, Gordon was involved in investing in - and often times running - start-up companies. He loved the challenges and the learning experiences they provided. Gordon always remembered and appreciated what he learned from others, especially his parents, Thelma and Thomas whom he considered his heroes. The central lesson of life he took from them is that "family is everything" and he shared this philosophy freely with everyone he knew. He also felt strongly about the positive influence his years at Archbishop Carroll had on him and he continued to give back time and money to the school throughout his adult life. The large number of family and friends Gordon left behind all feel tremendously blessed to have known and loved him and are thankful for the life that he shared with them. Services in New York.