Eugene Gordon - Obituary

Our hearts are broken, as we remember our beloved father, grandfather, and great grandfather, Eugene "Gene" Gordon, who passed away in the early morning hours of February 19, 2018. This decent man, with a wonderful sense of humor, made the world a better place in the almost 90 years he was with us in life. Quick with a joke, a wisecrack, or a witty comment, Gene was a true kibitzer that endeared himself to all who were lucky enough to know him.

Born in Detroit, Michigan, on the first day of Spring, in 1928, Gene achieved excellence as a student at Pershing High School and Wayne State University. He served the country in the Navy, at posts in San Diego, California and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. It is not just a coincidence that when Gene enlisted in the Navy, Japan surrendered. It was his postwar experience in San Diego, that brought him and his family from the winter snows of Detroit to the balmy summers of San Diego, in 1962.

Working as a Certified Public Accountant, Gene served the local community for over thirty years with his own CPA office, first on Navajo Road and then later on Mission Gorge Road, making Form 1040 a little less taxing for his clients. He had an extraordinary love of numbers and puns. You could count on that. There is nothing more to add.

Gene loved sports, especially those he could watch on TV, so he could criticize the players and the coaches. He rooted for his baseball teams, the Detroit Tigers and the San Diego Padres, and his football teams, the Detroit Lions and the San Diego Chargers. In 1984, when the Tigers and Padres met in the World Series, he attended the first game in San Diego,
with his son, Howard. When asked who he was rooting for, he said, the parking lot attendants; they're making a fortune.

Gene invested heavily in the stock market. It's impossible to list the names of the companies he invested in because all of them are either out of business or bankrupt. He was a contrarian investor. His investments went contrary to the way he wanted them to go.

Gene was a generous person and donated to Jewish causes and charities such as Tifereth Israel Synagogue, Magen David Adom, and Mazon. His favorite charity was D.Z. Akin's, because he said they served the community, with the best matzo ball soup in town.

Married to his lovely wife, Beatrice, who passed away in 2001, they raised two children, Howard and Susan, imbuing them with a sense of kindness, compassion, and tolerance for all people. He met his wife, Bea, at college. Taking advantage of a bus strike, he drove her to class. Their time together on those drives paved the way for a life of joy together. They shared the experience of making a Jewish home, raising children, and earning a living. Bea was his office secretary, confidant, and constant companion.

Bea and Gene loved to travel, and they traveled the world, including Israel, where Bea became a Bat Mitzvah. Las Vegas was their second home. They kept the luggage industry in business for many years. At Barona Resort and Casino, his name wasn't Eu-Gene, it was, You, Again? He went there often, to see what they had done with his money.

Gene was involved in the community, serving as President of his B'nai Brith Lodge, and an officer of Beth Tifilah and Tifereth Israel Synagogues. He attended services religiously, and became rich, becoming a minyonaire at Tifereth Israel.

Gene lived life to the fullest. He would tell everyone to eat, drink, and enjoy life. He enjoyed listening to music, especially Elvis. When he would sing, Love Me Tender, there would be a standing ovation, when everyone left the room. His favorite song was, You Are My Sunshine. His family says of him, you are our sunshine.

Gene is survived by his two children, Howard Gordon (Holly) of Fountain Valley, California and Susan Furman (Joseph) of San Antonio, Texas, his four grandchildren, Joshua, Michael, David, and Jenny, and his eight great grandchildren, Asher, Vanian, Zevi, Shaina, Devora Malka, Yitzi, Tova, and Liora.

Funeral services were held at Greenwood Memorial Park on February 21, 2018, with a eulogy delivered by Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal, of Tifereth Israel Synagogue. Funeral arrangements were made by the Am Israel Mortuary. Charitable donations may be made in his memory to Jewish organizations such as Tifereth Israel, Magen David Adom, and Mazon.