On March 4, 2024 at the age of 78, Don finished all that he had set out to do here and peacefully left this life for the next. He was surrounded by loved ones as he passed including his wife Joan and their dog Candy, his son Paul and wife Kris, and his daughter Laura and husband Mark.
Don was the eldest of 8 children born to Bill & Donelda Gordon. His energetic nature and playful sense of humour paved a path of mischief and created unbreakable bonds with his younger siblings: Keith (Joanne), Sharon, Sheila (Mike), Al (Margie), Glen (Ingrid), Bob (Louise), and Wanda (George). Putting all the Gordon siblings in one room always led to hilarity with Don leading the charge.
Don’s sense of adventure and intense drive led to many successes in his life. He began his career working as a teacher before going to Western University’s Ivey Business School. After graduation, he used his entrepreneurial streak to become a partner at Atlas Block Co Ltd. With ingenuity and dedication on his side it didn’t take long before Don was President & CEO of the company. During his 35 years steering Atlas it became a highly successful concrete product manufacturer, and a pioneer in green practices and innovations. Don was the first ever Canadian Chair of the National Concrete Masonry Association and was inducted into their Hall of Fame.
Living and working in Midland for over 40 years, Don was passionate about his community. As an elder at the Knox Presbyterian Midland, he took great joy in being involved in the music and day-to-day runnings of the church. He was a member of the Rotary Club of Midland and a Board Member of the Midland Cultural Centre. He sat on the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre’s Patient Advisory Council and was a Trustee of the Weber Foundation. And dear to heart was his position as Chair of the Board of Governors for Georgian College, from which he received an honorary degree in 2022.
Always affable and hard-working, Don never settled for mediocre; but where Don truly excelled was at having fun! Every outing was an adventure, every get-together a party. He was a master storyteller and made friends everywhere he went because he loved listening to other people’s stories even more than he enjoyed telling his own. He loved curling, boating, skiing, music, travel, and time with family.
Don held many official titles over the course of his life but he would tell anyone who would listen that it was his unofficial titles which made him most proud - son, big brother, uncle, husband, dad, and his favourite: papa. His passing leaves a huge hole in the hearts of his grandkids Jack, Ryan, Nathan, Lucy, Emma, and Gemma, who were the eager recipients of some of Don’s most creative and legendary stories. Don will be dearly missed by Joan’s daughters Katie (Farhan) and Christie (Mario), dozens of nieces and nephews, loving in-laws, and countless friends who felt like family.
The family would like to thank Dr. Darwish, Dr. Ng and RVH Cancer Centre, Dr. Queenan and Hospice Huronia, Erin and Bayshore Nurses, and Robin and Home & Community Care for their outstanding care and support.
A celebration of life will follow in April. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to one of the following organizations that were special to Don: Hospice Huronia, Knox Presbyterian Midland, and RVH Cancer Centre.
“May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
May the rains fall upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.”
