Gordon Honored with Emeritus Status

Gordon Honored with Emeritus Status

One of the longest-tenured volunteers in the history of United Helpers was recently honored with emeritus status following 37 years of service to the organization.

Dr. Edward I. Gordon, a retired veterinarian began volunteering with United Helpers in 1986, spending several stints on both the Management Company (United Helpers, Inc.) Board of Directors and the Society Board of Directors.

Committees he served on include Pension Review, Personnel, Investment, Planning, Quality Assurance, Nominating, Scholarship, and Fund Development.

“There isn’t much for a volunteer to do with our organization that Dr. Gordon has not done,” said United Helpers CEO Todd R. Amo, who noted Dr. Gordon’s wife Bobby is also a volunteer with United Helpers, currently serving on the United Helpers, Inc. Board.

In addition to many years of volunteer service, the Gordons have also been significant financial supporters of United Helpers.

In 2020 Dr. Gordon created an endowment in honor of his late grandmother to fund the Fannie Frank Award. The following year, the Gordons again made a sizable contribution to United Helpers, this time naming the therapy suite at United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care in honor of retired CEOs John Turongian and Stephen E. Knight.

The announcement of Dr. Gordon’s Emeritus Status was made at the Society Board of Director’s annual meeting by Society Board President Joseph Finnegan. Mr. Finnegan presented him with a plaque which read, “With our greatest appreciation we hereby present Dr. Edward Gordon Emeritus Status. For your unwavering support and unrelenting guidance that helped lead our path to success, you are being honored with much appreciation and gratitude.”

United Helpers, Inc. Board President Darlene Liscum also presented Dr. Gordon with a framed proclamation announcing the honor.

Reading from the proclamation, Mrs. Liscum said, “Dr. Gordon dedicated countless hours in support of the community members who receive services from United Helpers and

volunteered his time to acknowledge the individual contributions of people he influenced, his love of making special memories and improving the quality of life for others.”

Following a standing ovation, Dr. Gordon spoke briefly saying he was both touched and humbled by the honor.

“This is kind of overwhelming,” he said. “I certainly wasn’t expecting this. When I announced my retirement from the board I said, ‘If you’re lucky enough to be a part of United Helpers for 37 years then you’re lucky enough.”

Dr. Gordon lives in Potsdam with his wife, Barbara “Bobby” Gordon. The couple has four children and seven grandchildren.