Gordon Lee Ridgeway

Lee was born on August 26, 1934 in Cleveland, Ohio to Gordon and Beatrice Ridgeway. He passed away on June 26, 2023 in Carmichael, California. He was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley [Cohenour] and brother, Paul, and is survived by his daughters Linda Raber [Larry] and Laura Nathan [Terry] of Davis, California, son Steve Ridgeway [Kristi] of Lyle, Washington, grandsons Tyler and Scott Raber, and best friend of over 26 years, Janet Olson of Carmichael, California.

Lee lived in Rocky River, Ohio until August 1946 when the family moved to San Mateo, California. He attended San Mateo High School and graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 1956 with a Bachelors Degree in Economics and was a member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity. He was a Legislative Advocate for 32 years representing the California State Employees Association, the California Trucking Association, and General Motors Corporation. Lee retired in 1997 as General Motors Western Regional Manager representing GM before the legislatures of Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.

Lee held a private pilot’s license, was certified as an open water scuba diver, trained five years in karate, enjoyed tennis, fly fishing, and flying radio-controlled airplanes. He was member of Gethsemane Lutheran Church, University of California Alumni Association, Gold River Racquet and California Fly Fishers Unlimited.

A memorial service will be held at Gethsemane Lutheran Church, Carmichael at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 1. There will be a private interment at Mt. Vernon Memorial Park and Mortuary, on Greenback Lane, Fair Oaks.