Gordon was born on June 4, 1925 in Hartford, Connecticut to Earl and Josephine Titcomb. He grew up in Wethersfield and West Hartford, Connecticut.
Gordon graduated high school from Kingswood School in West Hartford, CT in 1944. After graduation he was awarded a full academic scholarship to Princeton University. However, because of WWII, Gordon felt the calling of service to his country and postponed his college years to enlist in the United States Navy.
Gordon attended Officers Candidate School at Yale and Holy Cross University and Midshipman School at Columbia University. He was commissioned as an Ensign in the Navy and was briefly assigned to P. T. Boat training. After the P. T. Boat program was terminated by the Navy, Gordon was assigned to the USS Motive, a minesweeper in the Pacific Theatre, as the engineering officer. He remained in the Navy until June of 1946, when he received an Honorable Discharge.
Returning back to Connecticut, Gordon quickly resumed his civilian life. His first goal was to marry Audrey Arnold, his high school sweetheart. Audrey and Gordon were married on September 7, 1946 and have remained happily married for 72 years.
Gordon and Audrey moved to Princeton, N.J., where Gordon enrolled in classes at Princeton in late 1946 and graduated with honors in late 1948 with a degree in mechanical engineering.
Upon college graduation, Gordon was offered and accepted an engineering position with Pratt & Whitney Aircraft and was assigned as a Test Engineer on the Wasp Major Piston aircraft engine.
Gordon had a long and successful career at Pratt & Whitney, holding important positions in both the East Hartford and West Palm Beach, Florida operations.
Gordon was the Program Manager for many successful projects including:
RL-10 Hydrogen Rocket Engine program
SST Jet engine development program
F-14 Jet engine development program
F-15 Jet engine development program
F-16 Jet engine development program
and other commercial and military engine programs. After 36 years at Pratt & Whitney, Gordon retired in 1986, as Executive Vice President.
In Gordon’s Post retirement years, he continued to lend his talents. He was asked to join the Board of Directors for BP Chemical Company, an America division of BP Energy. After two years on the Board of Directors, he was appointed Chairman of the Board and remained in that position until 1994.
Audrey and Gordon maintained properties in Mariners Sands Country Club, Stuart, Florida and Wethersfield, Connecticut, until 2011, when they became fulltime Florida residents. They were residents of Mariner Sands from 1984 until 2008, when they moved to Sandhill Cove Retirement Community.
Gordon was a great husband, father, grandfather and friend. He will be greatly missed by family and friends.
He was also a Mason. He was one of the Founders of the Mariners Sands Chapel and served as President. He was a devoted member of Meals on Wheels in both Connecticut and Florida.
Gordon is predeceased by his sister Barba T Wilde and daughter, Susan T. Brawner. He is survived by his wife, Audrey A. Titcomb, Palm City, Florida, son Don Titcomb, wife, Bonni G. Titcomb, Jacksonville, Florida, daughter. Barbara T. Burke, husband, Ralph Frank, Naples, Florida and 6 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.
The family will hold a private Memorial Service at the Mariners Sands Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, chartable contributions may be made to:
Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation
110 East 42nd Street
16th Floor
New York, NY 10017
800 259-4636
Mariner Sands Chapel
6500 SE Congressional Way
Stuart, FL 34997
772 288-5194
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