Fern L. Menkis Gordon

Gordon, Fern L., 80 years old, of Palm Harbor, Florida. Born in November of 1935. Died in hospice with the company of her loving family during the early morning hours of June 26, 2016. She is survived by her very dear devoted husband, Richard E. Gordon, of Palm Harbor, her son Dr. Mitchell A. and Dr. Althier Pino Lazar, of Gladwyne, PA, her son Steven R. Lazar and Dr. Deborah Sweet, of Arlington, MA, and her son, Bart A. Lazar, of Chicago, IL. She was also blessed with the love of her four very special grandchildren: Zachary G. Lazar, of New York, NY, Rachel A. Lazar, of Brooklyn, NY; Naomi I. Lazar, of Chicago, IL; and Aaron R. Lazar, of Philadelphia, PA. She also loved spending time with Richard’s children and grandchildren, and with close friends. Fern reveled in the love of her wonderful, accomplished family. To Fern, they all are simply the best, and if you had time, she would not hesitate to tell you of their many achievements, which thrilled her to no end throughout her life. Fern was born and raised in the Bronx, NY to her late father George Menkis and late mother Rose [Plotka] Menkis along with her younger brother the late Harvey R. Menkis. She trained in business and secretarial studies in high school. She married Marvin Lazar in June 1954 and resided for a time in Frankfurt, Germany during Marvin’s military service, where she first became a mother to Mitchell in April 1956. After returning to reside on Long Island, Fern gave birth to Steven in May 1959; and Bart in March 1961. Even as a mother of three young sons, Fern returned to school to complete an advanced degree in Education from Hofstra University, and became an accomplished reading specialist on Long Island for over twenty years. Shortly after her first marriage ended in divorce in 1978, Fern soon encountered the person who was to become her soulmate, Richard Gordon. Fern and Richard had a friendship, spirit, strength and love that sustained them and filled them with joy for over 34 years of marriage. They enjoyed a long retirement during which she and Richard journeyed far and wide. For several years, Fern and Richard escaped the hot Florida summers by playing ‘snowbirds’ and residing in Salem Massachusetts from June through September. Israel, Russia, Barcelona, Cape Cod and Block Island are all places they visited and loved. Fern’s interests, spirit and talents were multiple and far-reaching, and she loved to express her wisdom and emotions through poetry. From 1977 until 2007, Fern published seven volumes of her poetry. Some of her poems can be viewed at http://www.geocities.ws/imfern156/index-2.html. She also shared her humor as a stand-up comedian, donated her time as a docent at the Leepa-Ratner Museum and, after her 80th birthday, took up photography as a hobby. Most of all, Fern loved her family. She lived to see her three sons thrive and reach great achievements in their careers and persons; to see her wonderful grandchildren through bar and bat mitzvahs, high school graduations, and college educations. Fern’s youthful spirit helped her form close bonds to them during their childhood, and she cherished her relationships with each of them.