Cecille Mary Gordon

Cecille Mary Gordon, known as Ceil to friends and loved ones, passed away on October 15, 2021 from complications related to her long term battle with bi-polar illness. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Ceil graduated from Fairfax High School and later attended Santa Monica Community College. She spent most of her adult life living, working, and volunteering in and around West Los Angeles.

A passionate advocate for the rights of mental health patients, Ceil channeled her experiences as a patient and survivor of mental illness into community activism. She was a veteran of both public and private mental health systems. She lived through many hospitalizations and subsequent step-down treatment settings, and was deeply sympathetic to the many challenges associated with surviving severe mental illness.

Her experiences made her a compassionate champion for people with mental illness. After six years as a member of a support group for patients and families managing bi-polar illness, Ceil became the assistant leader of the group. She also participated as a peer counselor assisting patients and their families in understanding treatment and how to overcome the barriers of daily living.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Ceil acted in a number of capacities to address the rights and needs of mental health patients and their families. She was, for example, appointed to the Los Angeles Department of Mental Health’s Southern Area Advocacy Committee and she worked with the Los Angeles County Mental Health Commission.

She was also a case manager at the Westside Center for Independent Living and worked with the Benefits Assistance Clients’ Urban Project. She was a longtime member of the Los Angeles Client Coalition and maintained close contact with the Dept. of Mental Health Office of Consumer Affairs. She trained as a speaker through the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill and facilitated groups for people at all stages of recovery.

An accomplished pianist, Ceil was also a dedicated audiophile and always good for a critique of the latest movies and local restaurants. She loved dance, especially traditional folk dancing, and she frequently participated with local clubs.

The compassion, humor, and insights that she brought to everyday living ensured that Ceil was well loved. Many have commented on her courage and the sheer grit with which she managed the challenges she faced. She was an inspiration to many people over the years. Her close knit network of friends were her constant lifeboat. She felt they were more important to her mental health than any prescribed medication or treatment.

Ceil will be remembered by those she loved for how she enriched their lives. Ceil’s memory is cherished by her two brothers, Jerry and Allan, and their wives, Sally and Nancy. She will be remembered by her six nieces and nephews, Sam, Simone, Brielle, Ellie, David, and Gordon who called her “Tia” or “Aunt Ceil.” They loved her and she, in turn, adored them. She was intensely proud of their achievements and humanity and often predicted that their generation would fix the world’s problems.

There will be a celebration of Ceil’s life at a gathering of family and friends in the coming weeks. The family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, charitable gifts be made in Ceil’s memory.

Three charities that represent Ceil’s interests include:

National Alliance on Mental Health https://nami.org/Home

Meals on Wheels West Los Angeles www.mealsonwheelswla.org

Venice Family Clinic https://venicefamilyclinic.org/powerofus

However, a gift to any charity will be appreciated.