Bill Gordon
Bill Gordon's twin sister, Betty (CHS - Class of '60) tells us about her brother:
Bill became a stockbroker with Paine Webber and lived in New York. He married for the first time to Kappy Paul but divorced 5 to 7 years later. He returned to California and went to work for Home Federal Savings, where at the time of his death, he was Sr.VP in charge of commercial loans. He remained single until he met Melissa Beckwith, a SF Bay area girl working as a teller at Home Federal. They married in 1983. Bill and Melissa were expecting their first child in 1991 when Bill died suddenly of a massive coronary at the age of 48. His daughter, Amanda Grace Gordon, whom he never had the joy of seeing, is very much like her father, according to Betty. Amanda graduated from La Jolla High School in 2009 and was named California Interscholastic Federation Academic Team Champion in Women's Volleyball in 2008-09. She is now (2010) a 2nd year student at University of Oregon.
Bill was a member of the chorus and had a role in the senior play. "Bill had a great voice," Betty says wonderingly. 
"I never realized it until one night at (a karaoke club) he sang "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" a capella. I was amazed!" He served as emcee at the Class of 60's 20th Reunion and at the 30th Reunion, just a few months before his passing. "He had challenged me to lose 20 lbs before the reunion", says Betty. "If I did, he would pay my plane ticket to San Diego, pay for my dinner at the reunion, I could stay at his home, and he'd take me to brunch the next day at the Hotel Del Coronado. If I didn't lose the 20 lbs., of course, all expenses were mine (although I could still stay at his home...no charge) and I had to treat him to brunch at Hotel Del! Guess who paid?" Betty laughs ruefully.
Bill was involved in community organizations and served as President of the 20/30 Club of San Diego, and President of the S.D. Bachelor's Club. He was also a member of the La Jolla Country Club. "There were 600 people at his funeral," Betty says in recalling that time.
The photo at right is one of the first "portraits" of Bill and his sister, Betty, taken in front of their home near foothills Blvd. in Pacific Beach. They were about six months old. Except for the bow in her hair, it's hard to tell sister and brother apart. You can see their last portrait together on the pages celebrating our 30th Reunion.
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The lovely young lady at left is Bill's final legacy, Miss Amanda Grace Gordon.
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I Remember:
Though I didn't have Bill in any classes that I recall (well, possibly English Lit...it's vague), I remember him always being very high energy, vital and full of life. He was always on his way to somewhere! And I remember most of all, his great friendship with his sister.
Susan (Susi) McLane Fredrick, CHS 1960
I Remember:
Bill was a nice guy and great in handball.
Mike Penton, CHS 1960
I Remember:
My sister, Linda Brown, CHS1960, and I moved to Clairemont from North Hollywood. Bill was the very first person we met. Our families lived on Moraga Street. At that time, it was still a "dead end" to Balboa. We had more fun that summer. However, we all had to register at Marston. My Dad was out of town, my Mom didn't drive. However...I could!!! I was going into the 8th grade after all!!!
So, in my Dad's '53 Ford black convertible....with the top down...was me, in the front seat (driving) with my Mom (being the Mom) and sister Linda...back seat was Bill Gordon and Betty and Johnny Butterfield, Class of 1961. If we did that now....we'd still be in Jail....
We miss you Bill.
Randy Brown, Class of 1961
If you have a memory of Bill Gordon that you would like to share with our classmates, please email the Webmaster.
Please do not forget to include your name at the time of graduation and the year you graduated.
