Gordon Fisk passed away, after a brief illness, at Swedish Hospital on October 13, 2015.

Gordon was born October 29, 1924, in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, to Henry Clay Fisk, Jr. and Erla Simpson Fisk of Hyde Park, Vermont and baptized in the Second Congregational Church of Hyde Park, Vermont; he had one sister, Ruth.

The family moved to California when he was two years old.

He was raised in Downey, California, and attended the Methodist Church. (no Congregational) Gordon graduated from high school in 1943 and joined U.S. Navy.

Dad used to tell a story that the only time his ship saw action was from friendly fire from another American ship.

After discharge in 1946 he worked at the Downey Champion weekly newspaper and for

a few months at the Desert Barnacle weekly newspaper in Coachella, California. It was advertised as the most low down newspaper in the country, published 69 feet below sea level. Gordon was editor, only reporter, photographer and assistant press man.

In 1949 he enrolled in the University of Southern California, getting a teaching

credential. In 1951 he married Clare Swartz. They met at the First Unitarian church in Los Angeles. Two sons came from this marriage Steve and Ben were born in 1954 and 1956. The marriage lasted 27 years. Clare and Gordon remained in touch until her death in May 2009.

After graduation he taught in the Los Angeles school system for about a "thousand

Years"

His son Ben thinks it was 33 years

Ben adds that during his teaching career he was highly regarded by his students. He helped recruit minority leadership into the LA School District and promoted cross cultural events for the students in his school, Wilmington Jr. High, which had a largely minority student body.

Somewhere along the way he became involved with the Sierra Club and did lots of hiking and backpacking in the mountains of southern California and in the Sierra Nevada's.

Ben notes that he had one leg shorter than the other and still bagged 100+ peaks.

Ben also mentions that he was I was in the Boy Scouts my dad helped out a lot by driving kids to campouts and being an adult who camped and hiked with the kids during many of the outings.

Gordon moved to Vashon after retirement in 1989. He joined the Burton church, and met Myrna Ober who became a good friend-- the best friend he ever had-- until she died in October of 2007. The church and Myrna were two great things in his life.

Gordon made numerous friends on the Island. He had a regular routine to head down to the Burton coffee stand, park by the boat dock and watch the water.

He was fond of starting up conversations. He was always reading, researching and writing about subjects that interested him. Gordon was a frequent visitor to the Vashon Cemetery, he enjoyed the quiet and the beauty as he visited with friends that had passed.

Gordon is survived by His two sons Steve of Seattle, Ben (Kazue) of San Jose, California and Singapore and Grandson Buck of currently in Japan, also his sister Ruth Ryan in San Clemente, California. As well as many friends on Vashon.

Gordon will be remembered during a regular Sunday morning service at the Burton Church.