Nancy Ellen Gordon

Nancy Ellen Gordon passed on November 10, 2020 at the age of 70 after a seven year battle with cancer. Nancy was born on June 7, 1950 to her parents Frank and Clara Bielecki Gordon. Following in her mother's footsteps, Nan learned the value of a dollar during her teenage years at F.W. Woolworths. Her Woolies coworkers created a place as surreal as Nan's Salem "friends" on Days of Our Lives. After attending Mont Pleasant HS she matriculated at SUNY Oneonta obtaining a bachelors of arts in French, and became a Red Dragon for life. She continued this connection and always looked forward to frequent gatherings of Oneonta friends and alumni. To fund her peerless social life she balanced the books as an accountant for various general contractors, a furniture maker, and finally a travel company. Along the way she would make lifelong friends, many earning a special nickname.

Outwardly you would notice Nancy as a beacon of fashion. Her jewels, bracelets, scarves, nail polishes, golden garnishes and later in life even the dreaded silver, numbered in the thousands. She'd grab you with her eyes and engulf you in a long, comfy hug, possibly dangerous if entangled or struck by her adornments. A gregarious socialite, a typical night with Nan would likely include a meal and a show, perhaps a ride in the Nissan Sentra with a cassette of Barry White, Luther Vandross, or the O'Jays playing. The cinema seats of the Scotia and Spectrum theaters greeted her like an old friend as she accumulated a watch list that rivaled Siskel & Ebert. Her love of movies connected her to many, even befriending a pig-farmer with a certain "reverence" for the industry. Devoted Jazz Fest attendee, she especially enjoyed live music at SPAC, Van Dyke, on the Dutch Apple, or back-in-the-day evenings at the legendary Colonie Coliseum. Occasionally, you could find her at Proctors or at a local theatre production supporting her friends. Perpetually tardy, we lost years of our lives waiting for her in general, but commonly in a Friendly's parking lot waiting to visit our family at Glen Lake. The sight of her turned frustration to joy.

Our family cherishes Nancy for being unfailingly kind, warm and finding joy in life at every turn. She exemplified this every day but it was most profound at a lifetime milestone for those she loved most. Weddings, birthdays, graduations she took as opportunities to honor her beloved with an ardent poem from Nan. Entwined with wit and humor to lift your spirits, she'd celebrate your life and occasion with this unique and creative talent. Her poems would captivate the room and leave the recipient speechless. In those moments Nancy would affirm the unspoken and special bond you created with her. Nancy truly loved her nieces and nephews as if we were her own. Days or months since your last encounter you sat down, one-on-one and you told her
about your life as she listened with intent and love. Once that was out of the way the fun began accompanied by belly laughs and smiles. Her loudest roars may have come during Christmas Eve celebrations including an annual ugly ornament' competition or a fervent game of Catch Phrase. In more recent years, Nancy truly adored spending the holidays with her family, made even more special when we could spend them in Virginia with family that had returned from far and wide.

Nancy loved the company of all her cousins. Sharing birthdays, holidays, and cousin lunches with Janet and Randy Herbert, Jillian and Cody Rule and her godmother the late Patty Rossi. Nancy also loved a visit to the Gordon Marina to see cousins Bobby Gordon, the late Paula Gordon and their children Greg and Kelly.

Her love for our Irish cousins runs deep, only matched by their collective passion for shopping. An Irish visit meant a trip to a shopping oasis with Nan leading Mandy McCausland, Donna Wilson, and the late Maureen Knox. It's difficult to say who was the biggest shopaholic. The evidence might point to the shopper who shook in excitement upon arriving at Charming Charlie's.

Nancy is survived by her loving family, sister of Bill Gordon and his wife Diane, sister of Kathy Gordon Snowden. Aunt of Missy Gordon O'Connor and her husband Mike, Jen Gordon Stinchcomb and her husband Graham, Bryan Gordon and his wife Melissa and Kyle Snowden. Great aunt or GRANT of Reegan O'Connor, Mitchell O'Connor, Olivia Stinchcomb, Graden O'Connor (her birthday buddy), Rex Stinchcomb, Isabel Stinchcomb and Nolan Gordon. If it were a film, Nancy would give her childhood with Bill mixed reviews. His incessant pestering would make for a difficult first act, but one day Nan flipped the script by hurling an ashtray that gashed Bill's elbow. Without a doubt this moment proved to her brother/tormentor that she too inherited the Eye of The Tiger and was not to be taken lightly. Thankfully, it was smooth sailing thereafter and Bill would later captain Nancy's cherished boat rides on the Grinmor. Diane, an only child, gained two sisters when she married Bill. Before meeting her future sibling, Bill had cautioned her against teasing eldest sister, she was wise to heed his warning and her restraint was rewarded. Over time their bond would grow and recently Diane would be pampered by her sisters-in-law on Diane Day. Diane laughs when she recalls joining all of those in attendance as everyone wore an outfit straight from the Nancy Gordon Collection at her surprise 40th birthday party.

Kathy will miss their sister-time spent around the island of 1568. Talking, gossiping, or concocting their next friend/family surprise event, the sisters should have spent more time consulting maps that could have aided them in their trips to Virginia. They got lost EVERY SINGLE TIME. One of their oldest friends even made it to the silver screen. Perhaps the greatest concoction was having Nan play the role of agent as she scheduled an interview with a local film critic for her newly acquired client. The sisters didn't stop there and used 1568 as the venue for a marvelous Fake Hollywood Premiere for the Antz producer. She was one of many friends the duo would target. Heaven help you if you were to see The Black Glove. Ever uncompromising, a lace scarf was the accent to an all-yellow outfit Nancy sported at a Billy Idol concert. Billy loved lace, but the only thing Nan loved was being there for Missy. He easily spotted her chaperone in a sea of black, but Missy was undeterred by the attention. Instead, she took comfort and pride knowing the effort that Nan would make to be with you. Prior to her concert going, an adolescent Missy assisted her aunt at work, always sure to look the part in professional dress. Effortlessly, Nancy made her feel so loved, important, and grown-up. Jen will always remember Nan's triumphant record in the game of Memory and painting their nails together after selecting from the impressive collection. Jen claims that Nancy had an advantage by using those freshly-painted nails to aid her tile flipping and were the true reason for her Memory downfalls. Though the sting of defeat can be painful, Jen was still surprised and overcome when she noticed her Nanabanana in the crowd at her Elon College graduation. Bryan will remember their visits to the Saratoga Race Track, an in-home tanning bed, and of course belting some Tavares. Knowing a wave of love and excitement was awaiting him, Bryan felt a magical experience when he would visit and eagerly awaited his next opportunity to return. An indelible mark, Bryan noticed that same excitement whenever she saw his son Nolan. Being the amazing aunt that she was, she often regaled Kyle at her Menands stomping grounds
with sleepovers as a child. Who could resist a pool, trampoline, hours of puzzles/games, dial-up internet, and of course time with Nan? Fun was never far when the two were together. Annual trips to Cape Cod would prove to be her financial ruin as her 9 yr old nephew would demonstrate incredible beach based athletic feats to the promise of MILLIONS in US Savings Bonds. The Brinks truck never "backed up" at 1568 but Kyle considered the debt to be paid in full when his aunt recited the poem she'd written for him at his high school graduation party. One of his fiercest mini-golf rivals, the two had a lifetime of showdowns. When they weren't opponents, Nancy was likely attending one of Kyle's many, many games. She'd cheer as passionately for her Bubba as anyone. Yet again Nan was there, happy to love and support her nephew.

To know her was to love her. We are all the recipients of her love and grace. Forthcoming details regarding a celebration of Nancy's life in the coming year will be given by direct family members. Donations/contributions in Nancy's memory may be made at the following address: https://newyorkoncology.com/treatments-programs/supportive-care/nyoh