Gordon died May 12, 2018. He was born August of 1935 in Boise, Idaho and later moved to Eugene, Oregon where he raised his family. He spent his retirement years in Bradenton, Florida.

After serving with the U.S. Army in Germany, he completed his bachelor's degree from Idaho State and later got his master's degree and PhD. from the University of Oregon. Gordon taught in Boise for five years before moving to Eugene, Oregon, where he was a teacher and principal. The last ten years of his career were spent as Director of American International Schools in Saudi Arabia, Yugoslavia and Ethiopia. He jumped at Idaho City 1955-58.