Philip H. Gordon

Throughout his life, Phil was passionate about issues related to social justice, education and opportunity. In the 1960’s, Phil got involved in the Civil Rights movement, delivering two truckloads of supplies to Mississippi, where his niece Judy Frieze Wright had been jailed as a Freedom Rider and later worked during Freedom Summer. Together with his wife Sandy, he was an active philanthropist, served on boards and played a vital role in organizations including Facing History & Ourselves, Boston Arts Academy and Bard College. In 2002, he co-founded EdVestors, a Boston-based nonprofit focused on urban school improvement, where he served as founding board chair and remained active with the organization until his death.

Phil was deeply committed to making a difference for children and he saw education as the key to a better world. As he said in 2013, “When I retired, I wanted to do something that would make a difference. I wanted to do something for the kids who need a champion – in their education and for their futures. I believed that philanthropy could be a way to do that. EdVestors brings those two together: harnessing philanthropy to help improve urban schools for children. The future of these students is too important to leave to others. We must all get involved.”

Under Phil’s leadership, EdVestors grew into a dynamic school change organization that has raised and targeted more than $18 million in philanthropic donations to improve urban schools and has become the driving force behind multiple reform initiatives to level the playing field of opportunity and achievement for Boston’s students.

Born in Roxbury, MA on May 22, 1922, he was the son of the late Jacob (J.B.) Gordon and Sarah and brother to the late Bernice Frieze and Edward Gordon. He attended Bard College and served in World War II in the US Army from 1942 to 1945. His early career in journalism between 1945 and 1955 included positions as reporter, managing editor and copy editor at newspapers including the York Gazette & Daily (York, PA), the Jamestown Sun (Jamestown, NY) and the Boston Globe. In 1955, he entered the family business of Gordon Brothers, a jewelry business consultancy founded in 1903 that grew into a global advisory, restructuring and investment firm. He retired as Chairman Emeritus of the Gordon Brothers Group in 2001.

He was the beloved husband of Sandra P. Gordon and of the late Alda Slivin Gordon, who died in 1973, and father to Jeff Gordon and his wife Chantale of Pompano Beach, FL, Caryl Bishop of San Diego, CA, Joanne Adams and her husband Luke of Austin, TX, and Barbara Levkowicz and her husband Harold of Newton, MA. He is survived by his beloved grandchildren Jacob, Rebecca, Madeleine, Shelby, Rachel and Dawn, and many nieces, nephews and great grandchildren.

Services will be held on Sunday, November 16th at 1:00 pm at Levine Chapel, 470 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA. Graveside service will be private. Memorial observance will be at the residence Sunday and Monday evening, 5:00-7:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Facing History (www.facinghistory.org), Boston Arts Academy (www.bostonartsacademy.org), or the Phil Gordon Legacy Fund at EdVestors (www.edvestors.org).