WILTON — Lawrence “Larry” S. Gordon, 83, a resident of the Town of Wilton, died on September 11, 2018 at Glens Falls Hospital surrounded by many members of his loving family.
Larry was born on April 30, 1935, in Saratoga Springs, the son of Larry and Nellie Gordon.
Larry was a lifelong resident of Saratoga County. He graduated from Perkiomen Prep School in 1954 and Syracuse University, NYS College of Forestry in 1963. He was the Director of Planning for Saratoga County for 33 years and served as President of the NYS Planner’s Association and as Regional Vice President of the National Association of Planning Directors. He was Planner Emeritus of the American Institute of Planning.
Larry was the former Captain and a life member of the Greenfield/Wilton Fire District and served as Saratoga County Deputy Fire Coordinator and Town of Wilton Emergency Services Coordinator. He also served as a NYS DEC Volunteer Forest Fire Warden and NYS DEC Volunteer Fire Foreman. He was a member of Lower Adirondack Search & Rescue (LASAR), having served as its President and Team Commander, and served as Vice Chair of the NYS Federation Search and Rescue. He represented the executive branch of NYS on the Northeast Forest Fire Protection Commission (NFFPC), a consortium of NY, the New England states, Quebec and the Maritime Provinces. He was active in Boy Scouting for over 50 years, having served on the Executive Board of the local council and as property chair for Camp Saratoga. He was also an honorary member of the U.S.S. Saratoga Association. He served two terms as Councilperson on the Wilton Town Board. A few of his other community activities were Wilton Fire Tower volunteer, Wilton Wildlife Preserve and Park board member, NYS Mt. McGregor Facility Advisory Committee, U.S.S. Saratoga Decommissioning Ceremony, U.S.S. Saratoga Ship’s Bell & Commissioning Silver Service Restoration Committee as chair, U.S.S. Saratoga 1998 Reunion Committee as national co-chair and community liaison for the Saratoga National Veteran Cemetery dedication and for the Congressional Medal of Honor Reunion in Saratoga Springs.
Larry was recognized by the local Boy Scout Council as the “Good Scout” (twice) and received the Silver Beaver Award. He was the first recipient of the Wilton Wildlife Preserve and Park Metamorphosis Award, LASAR Volunteer of the Year Award in 1999, LASAR President’s Award in 2016 and NFFPC Outstanding Service Award in 2017.
Larry enjoyed traveling the roads in the Adirondack Park, with friends and making new friends, to earn his Vagabond Award from the Adirondack 102 Club, and he especially enjoyed entertaining friends and visitors at the Cornell Hill Fire Tower with endless tales. But most of all he enjoyed working on ‘projects’ – at Camp Saratoga, in the Town of Wilton, throughout Saratoga County and beyond.
Larry is survived by his wife, Patricia Watkins, son Robert, daughter, Lisa Beth, and son, Scott and Scott’s wife Christina, grandchildren Skyler and Jessica, sisters Laurie Zeh (Dale), Lynne Doyle (Dan) and Rhea Demory, and brothers Jan Scott (Anne), David (Kate) and Peter (Karen) as well as many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by Marie Towner, mother of Robert and Scott. He was preceded in death by his father, Lawrence Gordon, mother, Nellie Gordon, and step-mother, Jeanne Gordon.
Relatives and friends may call from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 22, 2018 at Saratoga Springs United Methodist Church, 175 Fifth Avenue. A memorial service will follow at 1 p.m.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Hudson Headwaters Health Foundation, 9 Carey Road, Queensbury, NY or Wilton Food Pantry, PO Box 2383, Wilton, NY.
Online remembrances may be made at burkefuneralhome.com.
