Obituary of Donald Knoll Gordon

AIKEN, SC - Mr. Donald Knoll Gordon, of Aiken, SC, passed away December 23, 2020, at home.

Born May 4, 1937, in Hamburg, PA, Mr. Gordon was the only child of the late George Daniel Gordon and Marie Holzman Gordon. Mr. Gordon was the fifth generation to maintain Callow Hill Farm in Bernville, PA. He became acquainted with Aiken through his neighbor and dear friend Mrs. Henry D. (Adele Corning) Paxson who bred champion thoroughbred racehorses and maintained a barn at the Aiken Training Track. Mr. Gordon and Mrs. Paxson shared a lifelong passion for music, especially as performed by the Academy of Vocal Arts and the Bucks County Orchestra.

Mr. Gordon’s father died when Donald was at a young age. In his teens and early adulthood, he helped his mother run the family business (Gordon Insurance), but he always had a passion to become an educator. To that end, and against advice, he changed curriculum at Lehigh University. He completed his undergraduate degree at Penn State, and earned a master’s degree, plus post graduate studies from Lehigh University. He was an educator for thirty years in the Council Rock School District, Newtown, Bucks County, PA; a job he thoroughly enjoyed. He actually looked forward to going to school.

Mr. Gordon was a member of the Unity Church and the Seagate Beach Club in Delray Beach, FL, and the Green Boundary Club in Aiken, and former board member of the Aiken Choral Society, member of the Aiken Center for the Arts, the Aiken Steeplechase Association, and the Aiken Historical Society. Mr. Gordon spent time in the Berkshire Mountains where he attended performances at Tanglewood annually for more than forty years. Mr. Gordon enjoyed attending the Metropolitan Opera in New York City and supporting the Reading Musical Foundation. He was a patron for Juilliard (Joye) in Aiken, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and a board member of the Academy of Vocal Arts, Bucks County Chapter, as long as he lived in New Hope, Bucks County. Mr. Gordon also spent many wonderful years wintering at his home in Florida, traveling around the world extensively, and collecting antiques.

In addition to his many friends, Mr. Gordon is survived by his cousins: Susan Gordon Schmehl, Jane Wilhelm, and John R. Heffelfinger; their families; his dear friend, Cody Anderson; devoted & caring maid, Maria Rodriguez.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 2, 2020 in Gordon Plot at St. John's Cemetery, Hamburg, PA.

A special thank you to Cody Anderson, the caring staff of Trinity Hospice (especially nurse Vindi), and of Right at Home.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor his memory may direct memorial contributions to the Boston Symphony Orchestra, 301 Massachusetts Ave., Boston, MA, 02115 to support the Tanglewood Music Festival.

The Historic George Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 211 Park Ave., SW, Aiken, SC 29801 (803.649.6234), has charge of arrangements.

Expressions of sympathy may be left by visiting www.georgefuneralhomes.com