DONALD

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DONALD MacLEOD GORDON, FCA 1924 - 2002 On Thursday, February 7, 2002, at Seven Oaks Hospital, Donald Gordon, surrounded by his family, passed into eternal rest, ending a courageous battle against his final illness. He died as he had lived, with dignity and grace, never complaining, and full of love for his family. He went willingly to his Lord, but not without first fighting for his life. It was a struggle he knew well, having contracted tuberculosis in his early 20s and having survived it by spending two years in a sanatorium (where he became an expert bridge player after having the bed next to the then, Canadian champion.) Donald Gordon was born to Molly and Norman Gordon on February 27, 1924, a third child to follow Robert and Shirley. He grew up on Walker Avenue in Fort Rouge, from where he would walk to Kelvin High School through open fields now covered in buildings and homes. After graduating from Kelvin in 1941, he entered the RCAF, training in Gimli and Summerside, PEI, and becoming a Flying Officer. He was discharged in 1945 and returned to the University of Manitoba, from where he graduated in 1948, beginning a 37 year career as a professional accountant. After graduation, he joined a Toronto firm of chartered accountants and subsequently spent three years with the Federal Tax Departments Toronto office. He actually landed in Toronto on his way to Chile, and some unknown adventure, but he stayed in the city after meeting a young woman called Ruth Seedhouse, on a date arranged by mutual friends. Although she always maintained, with a smile, that he didnt make a great impression on the first date, it was the beginning of a love affair that lasted over 50 years. Don and Ruth returned to Winnipeg in 1955, with a young son, Douglas, and moved to Wavell Street in Fort Rouge. Two more children, Brian and Bruce came along, causing the family to move to Kelvin Boulevard in Tuxedo. Don joined the firm of McDonald, Currie & Co., the predecessor to Coopers & Lybrand, and was admitted to partnership in the firm in 1958, and elected partner-in-charge of the Winnipeg office in 1967. He served as president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Manitoba and as Vice-President and member of the Executive Committee of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants for the period 1968-1971. He was elected a "fellow of the Chartered Accountants" in 1968. During the 1970s, Don was partner-in-charge of the Winnipeg office, Regional partner for Western Canada and member of the Executive and Management Committees of Coopers & Lybrand. He represented Canada on Coopers & Lybrands International Tax Group for a period of five years. In 1985, he was appointed President of Canwest Capital Group and he remained a director and director (emeritus) until his death. A proud Winnipeger, Don believed strongly in giving back to community. He ran youth groups for the United Church in Fort Rouge and Charleswood. In later years, he was member of the Board of Governors and the Executive Committee of the University of Manitoba, serving as Vice-Chairman of the Board and Chair of the Finance Committee. He was also a member of the Board of Management of the Manitoba Division of the Red Cross, Vice-President and Campaign Chairman of the United Way, Member of the Board and Executive Committee of the Health Sciences Centre, as well as a number of other charitable organizations. A list of achievements, however, gives little sense of the man. He loved business, sports, and most of all spending time at Lake Florence in the Whiteshell, a community he fought hard to preserve following the demise of rail service. Above all, he was devoted to his family, never too busy to attend an event, whether it was a hockey game, a graduation, or an excruciating school play. He was unapologetic as an enthusiastic supporter for all that his family did and nothing gave him greater pleasure than to have his sons and their families in the house making lots of noise and joking with each other. The love of his life, however, was Ruth, and during her illness, he cared for her with a devotion matched only by hers to him during his two years in the sanatorium. Theirs was a passionate love affair that lasted over half a century, and now, free from illness, they are reunited. Dad was many things, but most of all, he was just wonderful. He is predeceased by his wife Ruth and his brother Bob. He is survived by his sister Shirley Pincock and her husband Graham; his sister-in-law Evelyn; and by his three sons and daughters-in-law, Doug and Kim, Brian and Jane, and Bruce and Rona. Dad loved his grandchildren, Greg, Nicole, Meghan, Elizabeth, Marsha, BG, and Charlotte, and they loved him. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that friends remember Dads wide-ranging interests in the community through a donation to a charity of their choice. The family wishes to express its gratitude to the staff at the Victoria Hospital and in the ICU and Seven Oaks Hospital for their wonderful care of Dad during his final weeks. Friends may call at Thomson Funeral Chapels, 669 Broadway, on Monday, February 11, between 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, February 14, at 2:00 p.m. in Westminster United Church, Maryland at Westminster. THOMSON FUNERAL CHAPELS 783-7211

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 11, 2002