|
Gordon Merle Church, 58, passed away Monday, July 31, 2006 of pancreatic cancer. Gordon was the son of Eugene and Mable Church who preceded him in death. He is survived by aunt, Nell Burson of AL; uncle, Chuck Burson of SC; and cousins, Bridget Bradbrook of SC, Bob Burson of IL, Chuck Burson Jr. and Skip Burson of CA, Judi and Chuck Cadwallader and Roy Dalla of CO, Margaret Morales of AL, and Casey Scott of Albuquerque. Gordon also leaves a multitude of loving friends from across the U.S., admirers from every area of the arts and arts/public administration, a dance community richer for his passion and a city and state abundant in public art. Gordon graduated from Highland High School in 1965, received his B.A. in Geography from UNM, M.A. in Planning and Geography from the University of Nebraska with graduate study as a Fulbright scholar in planning, geography, and socialist art in London and Bucharest. He was a Silver Star recipient in Vietnam where he served as an U.S. Army interpreter. He also worked as Assistant Director for the Hollywood, CA Revitalization Committee, substitute taught, sold menswear, and waited tables. However, Gordon's primary professional passion was public art. He worked for Albuquerque City Government, and for a time for the State of New Mexico, from the early 1980s until his retirement in 2004. Most of that time was spent as Manager of the Public Art Program. Gordon loved New Mexico, Albuquerque, and his work, the vast city and state public art collection, attest to that love. Gordon served on the boards of the Albuquerque Arts Alliance, New Mexico Holocaust and Intolerance Museum, New Mexico Veterans Museum, and the Very Special Arts of New Mexico. Gordon was an extraordinary human by any measure. He spoke Spanish, German, Romanian, and Vietnamese, he danced to every beat, whether Sufi-style whirling alone in the mountain wilderness, belly dancing in California, or hitting the social dance scene in Albuquerque. Every piece of wood, fabric, or other material he touched became a work of art. He was a devoted son, assisting his mother as she traveled around the U.S. as a noted parliamentarian, and he was a loyal friend through better or worse. A Memorial Service will be held Sunday, September 24, 2006, 3:00 p.m., at First Methodist Church, 314 Lead SW, with a celebration of Gordon's life to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Arts Alliance of Albuquerque, P.O. Box 27657, Albuquerque, NM 87125, or to the American Cancer Society, 5800 Lomas NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110. French Mortuary 1111 University Blvd. NE. 843-6333
|
